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The United States has struck and destroyed five Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman and near Kharg Island, escalating the already intense military confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes were carried out after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attempted to attack a U.S. Navy warship with ballistic missiles on two occasions over two days.
The American warship successfully evaded the attacks, and no U.S. personnel were reported injured.
According to CENTCOM, four tankers were struck in the Gulf of Oman, while another was targeted near Iran’s Kharg Island, a major oil-export hub. U.S. forces said crews were warned to abandon the vessels before the strikes, which rendered the ships inoperable.
Iran responded by launching ballistic missiles at U.S. forces stationed at the Al Azraq military base in Jordan.
Jordan’s armed forces said its air defenses intercepted 18 of 20 missiles, while the remaining two fell in unpopulated areas.
No casualties were reported.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard also warned crews of oil tankers near ports in Kuwait and Bahrain to evacuate, raising concerns about further attacks on commercial shipping in the region.
The latest exchange comes amid a broader escalation in the Gulf and growing tensions around the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
The confrontation has also pushed global oil prices close to $100 a barrel, reflecting fears of further disruption to Middle Eastern energy supplies.
