The shuttling operations are carried out at the edge of the strait and involve secretly transferring oil to awaiting tankers. Convoys are guided to the tankers using helicopters and drones.
U.S. and Iran exchange strikes after Apache helicopter is downed, takeaways from Tuesday's primaries in four states, House Republicans approve a bill to fund ICE for the remainder of Trump's term.
The U.S. launched strikes against Iran beginning at 5pm ET on Tuesday in response to Iran's downing of a U.S. helicopter. The big picture: The latest exchange could risk military escalation with Iran even as President Trump is seeking a deal to end the war. - Trump said Tuesday that the U.S. "must, of necessity, respond" to Monday's downing of the helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz. - It is not yet clear what the U.S. is targeting. CENTCOM described the strikes as "a proportional response." - Iranian state media said explosions were reported in Hormozgan province, which lies on the Strait of Hormuz. Driving the news: Both members of the U.S. Army AH-64 Apache were rescued by a drone boat and are in stable condition. - A U.S.…