Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) navy announced on Monday that it fired a cruise missile at the Panama-flagged vessel MSC Sariska V, which it claims is linked to the United States and Israel. This action was stated as retaliation for a US military strike on the Iranian commercial ship Lian Star in the Gulf of Oman. The UK Maritime Trade Operations confirmed the MSC Sariska V sustained a "large explosion" approximately 40 nautical miles southeast of Umm Qasr, Iraq. These events occur amidst recent sporadic clashes in the Strait of Hormuz, including US "self-defense strikes" on Iranian drone command and control sites over the weekend, which the US stated were in response to Iran shooting down a US MQ-1 drone. The IRGC also reported striking an air base in retaliation for an attack on a telecommunications tower on Sirik Island. Iran had previously tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz starting February 28, barring passage for vessels affiliated with Israel and the US, following joint strikes on Iranian territory, while the US has also implemented a naval blockade.