Among the five is a Thailand-flagged bulk carrier damaged off Oman, while a Japan-flagged container ship off the UAE coast and a Greek-owned bulk carrier near Iraq in the Gulf sustained minor damage.

The American military says the rescue efforts are ongoing and aircraft not brought down by hostile or friendly fire.

An Indian national has been killed in an attack by an Iranian "suicide" boat on the US-owned oil tanker Safesea Vishnu near Iraq's Khor Al Zubair port. The remaining 27 crew members were rescued. This ...