- US forces destroyed five Iranian tankers carrying crude oil on Tuesday in response to two attempts to hit a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles, Central Command said.
- Iran retaliated by launching 20 ballistic missiles at Jordan, specifically targeting the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, a key facility used by US forces.
- Jordanian air defenses intercepted 18 of the 20 missiles launched by Iran, with the remaining two falling in unpopulated areas and causing no casualties.
- Oil prices rose for a fourth straight session, with Brent crude reaching $99.49 a barrel as tensions escalated in the region.
- Iran threatened to target oil tankers near Bahraini and Kuwaiti ports, warning crews to leave their vessels immediately.
- The US military confirmed that the American ship, which it did not identify, wasn’t hit and is still patrolling regional waters.
- CENTCOM stated that US forces instructed the crews of the vessels to abandon ship prior to striking.
- These cycles of escalation are becoming a pattern, as confirmed by the Secretary of State, who stated that every time Iran attempts an attack on a US naval vessel, there will be a response directed at Iranian tankers.
The U.S. military destroyed five Iranian tankers in the Gulf of Oman and near Kharg Island on Tuesday, following two missile attack attempts on a U.S. Navy warship.
Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that the American ship was unharmed and continued its patrols without injuries reported among U.S. personnel.
Oil prices surged to $99.49 a barrel, reflecting the ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran, which has escalated over the past months.
Brent crude prices have increased by a quarter since early August, as hopes for a resolution to the six-month conflict have diminished.
In retaliation, Iran launched a missile barrage targeting the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, claiming to have inflicted damage. The Jordanian army reported intercepting 18 of the 20 missiles, with no casualties.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that they would target oil tankers near Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports, urging crews to evacuate.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that every Iranian attack on U.S. naval vessels would result in a response against Iranian tankers, stating, “Iran continues to try to hit U.S. naval ships and for every time they do that, or try to do that, they’re going to lose tankers.”
“Iran's IRGC claimed it inflicted damage on a US base in Jordan, but the US has not commented on the claim. Jordanian air defenses intercepted 18 of 20 missiles, and Iran warned crews near Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports to leave their vessels.”
