US Strikes Five Iranian Oil Tankers as Iran Attacks 10 Ships and US Base in Jordan
The United States and Iran have entered one of the most serious escalatory phases of their six-month-old conflict, with Washington destroying five Iranian oil tankers and Tehran responding with attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and a missile strike toward a U.S.-used military base in Jordan.
The U.S. military said it destroyed five Iranian tankers after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted a U.S. Navy warship with ballistic missiles twice over two days. Washington said the American vessel successfully evaded the attacks and that no U.S. personnel were injured.
The vessels identified by U.S. authorities included the Kaviz, Charminar, Horizon 1, Riesco and Derya. American forces said crews were ordered to abandon the ships before they were struck.
Iran responded by saying it attacked 10 vessels attempting to pass through what it described as a prohibited area of the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC said the targets included two U.S. vessels and eight oil tankers.
Iran also launched ballistic missiles toward a U.S.-used base near Al Azraq in eastern Jordan. Jordan said its air defenses intercepted 18 of 20 missiles, while two landed in unpopulated areas. No casualties were reported, and U.S. officials said American personnel were safe.
The confrontation has put the Strait of Hormuz at the center of the crisis. The strategic waterway previously carried roughly one-fifth of global oil flows, but shipping traffic has been severely disrupted by the conflict.
The immediate impact has been felt in energy markets. Brent crude rose above $100 a barrel, its first move above that level since July, as traders reacted to the growing threat to oil supplies and maritime traffic.
The escalation is also spreading beyond the U.S.-Iran confrontation. Iran-backed Houthi forces have launched attacks against Saudi Arabia, including strikes on energy infrastructure, adding another potential threat to Middle Eastern oil supplies.
Iran has warned that it could further expand restricted maritime zones around its coastline, while Washington has signaled that additional Iranian attacks on U.S. naval forces could trigger further strikes on Iranian oil assets. The latest exchange therefore raises the risk of a much broader regional conflict and further disruption to global energy markets.
