Iran and U.S. forces clashed at sea, Iran's Mehr news agency reported.

Political analyst Elijah Magnier says despite reciprocal strikes neither the US nor Iran seeks an open-ended war because the costs to Gulf energy security, regional stability and global markets would be extreme. He says Washington’s recent strikes aim to reassert deterrence, protect US forces and restore freedom of navigation, while Tehran is signaling that attacks will carry a price. Magnier adds Iran is unlikely to claim responsibility for the reported downing of a US Apache helicopter—that would invite a major US retaliation—and that Tehran, while prepared to fight if necessary, judges Washington lacks the appetite for full-scale escalation.

Al Jazeera, citing sources, reports clashes between Iranian and U.S. forces continue in waters of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.