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US military stated that it struck five Iranian tankers after the IRGC targeted a US warship twice in a single day.
Five Iranian oil tankers were struck by the United States in the Gulf of Oman and near Kharg Island, which said that this attack came after Iran launched ballistic missiles at a US warship twice within two days.
In response to this, Iran fired missiles at US forces stationed at Jordan's AL Azraq base. Tehran also stated that it had carried out further attacks on at least two vessels of the US and eight tankers in the same region, alleging the strikes caused "great damage."
Gulf of Oman Tensions Rise
The latest exchange of fire comes amid increased tensions in the Gulf of Oman; six months have passed since the US-Israeli war with Iran. Tehran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, while Washington has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports. This escalating conflict has pushed the price of oil to 99.49 dollars a barrel during early trading on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, a statement was issued by US Central Command (CENTCOM) stating Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) has attempted to strike a US warship twice in a day. According to CENTCOM, the vessel managed to evade both attacks successfully, and no American personnel were injured. US military said the crews were instructed to leave the vessels before the strikes, after which the tankers were hit and rendered inoperable.
Iran Strikes Jordan Base
CENTCOM later released video footage that it said showed the M/T Riesco sinking in the Gulf of Oman. Iran said it retaliated by launching "fierce missile strikes" against the AL Azraq base located in Jordan, claiming that these attacks destroyed hangars used by US fighter jets.
IRGC also claimed to have carried out ballistic missile strikes on two US Navy destroyers, the DDG-119 and DDG-53, alleging that the attacks caused "significant damage" to the vessels. In another statement, the IRGC said its naval forces had targeted “2 American vessels and 8 tankers in the region”, causing what it described as “great damage”.
Iran Missile Strikes: UN Charter Violation Alleged
This attack was reported after the IRGC warned of possible strikes against oil tankers near the waters of Bahrain and Kuwait. The group urged all tanker crews to evacuate immediately.
Iran condemned these latest US strikes on its oil tankers as a " war crime" and a violation of the UN Charter. Tehran said the attacks followed earlier US strikes and warned of tighter restrictions around the Strait of Hormuz. Iran also held Washington and its allies responsible for any resulting consequences.
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