Mideast war transforms Strait of Hormuz into critical front line

Iran's quest to inflict maximum pain on the global economy in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes on its territory has all but shut the narrow strait through which 20 percent of global crude and LNG normally passes. Only a tiny fraction of the vessels that used to navigate the strategic waterway have made it through, while some have ended up in flames. Vessels hit At least 10 oil tankers have been hit, targeted or reported attacks between the start of the conflict and midday on March 11, according...