Explained: US military says it fired on another merchant vessel trying to breach its blockade of Iranian ports

The U.S. military fired on the merchant vessel M/T Lavine in the Gulf of Oman after it tried to breach the blockade of Iran's ports at least four times

Strait of Hormuz

A crucial passage for world energy supplies between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula, described as effectively shut down by Iranian attacks

Bab el-Mandeb Strait

A passage connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden through which about 12% of world trade passes

Revolutionary Guard

Iran's military force that claimed strikes on U.S. bases in Kuwait and Bahrain

Fifth Fleet

The U.S. Navy fleet based in Bahrain, whose watchtower Iran claimed to have struck

Houthi rebels

Iranian-backed group in Yemen that attacked Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea