US Says Five Iranian Oil Tankers Destroyed
The United States military says it has destroyed five Iranian oil tankers after renewed Iranian missile attacks on a US Navy warship, triggering retaliatory strikes by Tehran against American military targets in Jordan and further escalation around the Strait of Hormuz.
US Military Destroys Five Iranian Oil Tankers
US Central Command said American forces struck five tankers linked to Iran after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted a US warship twice over two days.
The vessels included the Derya near Iran’s Kharg Island and four other tankers in the Gulf of Oman. US forces said crews were instructed to abandon the ships before they were attacked and rendered inoperable.
No American personnel were reported injured during the operation. The latest strikes follow US attacks on three Iranian tankers over the weekend.
Iran Launches Missiles at US Base in Jordan
Iran responded by launching ballistic missiles towards the Al Azraq military base in Jordan, where American forces are stationed.
Jordan’s military said its air defences engaged 20 Iranian ballistic missiles, intercepting and destroying 18. The remaining two fell in unpopulated areas, with no casualties reported.
Iran claimed its strikes caused significant damage to facilities used by US aircraft, but that assertion has not been independently confirmed.
Strait of Hormuz Tensions Escalate Further
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard also claimed attacks against vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, including two US warships and commercial ships attempting to pass through the strategic waterway.
Tehran has additionally threatened tankers operating from Kuwait and Bahrain, accusing the two countries of assisting US operations.
The escalating confrontation has intensified concerns over global energy supplies, with Brent crude approaching $100 a barrel as markets assess the risk of further disruption to Gulf oil exports.
