Operation Epic Fury Sparks Chaos in Strait of Hormuz; Energy Markets on Edge

U.S. and Israeli forces have launched "Operation Epic Fury," a joint military strike targeting the command-and-control infrastructure of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The escalation has triggered immediate disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most vital maritime chokepoint which handles approximately 20% of global oil and LNG flows. Vessel-tracking data indicates that numerous tankers are abruptly altering their courses to avoid the area amid heightened security risks. Major shipping firms, including Japan’s NYK, have officially advised their fleets to bypass the strategic waterway to avoid potential retaliatory actions. While the strait remains technically open, the threat of conflict has injected a significant risk premium into global energy markets and driven safe-haven flows into Gold (XAU/USD). Analysts expect sustained upward pressure on Brent Crude and WTI as the market braces for potential supply chain bottlenecks.