Frustrated Trump resorts to hellfire strike as truce collapses, Iran war restarts?

The fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran is facing fresh pressure after a dramatic escalation across the Gulf. U.S. Central Command confirmed that an American aircraft fired a Hellfire missile into the engine room of the Botswana-flagged tanker M/T Lexie after the vessel allegedly ignored repeated warnings while sailing toward Iran’s Kharg Island. CENTCOM said the strike disabled the ship and prevented it from reaching one of Iran’s most important oil-export terminals. The incident comes amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran following recent exchanges of missile and drone attacks. Iran accused the United States of aggressive actions in the Gulf, while U.S. officials said American and partner forces intercepted multiple Iranian missiles and drones targeting regional locations, including Kuwait and Bahrain. The M/T Lexie strike marks the sixth vessel disabled under the U.S.-led blockade enforcement campaign that began in April. American officials say more than 120 vessels have also been redirected away from Iranian ports. CENTCOM later released footage of the Hellfire strike, highlighting what it described as a controlled enforcement operation. The release of the video has fueled debate over whether the Gulf is witnessing another dangerous phase of the U.S.-Iran confrontation, even as diplomatic efforts continue in the background.