U.S. strikes Iran tankers under new "tanker for tanker" policy

The U.S. military attacked two Iranian government tankers as part of the round of strikes that took place on Tuesday, U.S. officials said.

Why it matters: This is the first time the U.S. military has struck Iranian tankers in retaliation for Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz — rather than to prevent them from violating the naval blockade.

A U.S. official said the move was part of a new "tanker for tanker" policy approved by President Trump to further deter Iranian attacks on tankers that move through the strait.

Driving the news: U.S. officials said around 100 targets were attacked during Tuesday's strikes.

The Iranian government tankers were anchored off Iran's coast north of the U.S. naval blockade line.

U.S. drones launched missiles that hit their engine rooms.

Among the targets were Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) air defense sites, radar systems, mine-laying capabilities, communications sites, anti-ship cruise missile launchers and attack drone launchers, U.S. officials said.

They said Iran's retaliation failed.

It fired around 25 ballistic missiles, but only half reached Jordanian airspace.

Ten were intercepted and three landed without causing any casualties.

Iran launched two dozen drones at U.S. bases in Bahrain, but most were intercepted, a U.S. official said.

It also fired ballistic missiles and drones at U.S. bases in Kuwait.

And two drones were launched at a U.S. base in Erbil in the Kurdistan region of Iraq but were intercepted.

The big picture: The White House and U.S.