The United States military has attacked five Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman and near Kharg Island, following accusations that Iran launched ballistic missiles at a US warship on two occasions within two days. Iran retaliated by firing missiles at US forces stationed at the Al Azraq base in Jordan and claimed to have conducted additional strikes on two US vessels and eight tankers in the region, asserting that these actions caused significant damage.
The exchange of fire occurs amid heightened tensions in the Gulf, six months into the ongoing conflict involving the US and Israel against Iran, with Iran maintaining the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the US enforcing a naval blockade on Iranian ports. Following the attacks, oil prices rose to $99.49 a barrel in early trading on Wednesday.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attempted to target a US warship twice in the preceding days, but the vessel successfully evaded these attacks. CENTCOM stated that no American personnel were harmed during the incidents.
In response to the missile threats, CENTCOM confirmed that it struck and destroyed the Iranian oil carriers, which included M/T Kaviz, M/T Charminar, M/T Horizon 1, and M/T Riesco in the Gulf of Oman, as well as M/T Derya near Kharg Island. The crews were directed to abandon ship before the vessels were rendered inoperable.
Iran's IRIB state broadcaster acknowledged the attack near Kharg Island, which previously handled approximately 90 percent of Iran's oil exports. The IRGC later confirmed that five tankers were targeted and retaliated with missile strikes on the Al Azraq base, claiming destruction of hangars used by US fighter jets.
The IRGC also reported ballistic missile attacks on two US Navy destroyers, DDG-119 and DDG-53, claiming significant damage to these vessels. It was unclear if the two American vessels mentioned were the same destroyers referenced earlier. No immediate comment was provided by the US regarding these Iranian claims.
The attacks followed a warning from the IRGC about potential strikes on oil tankers in Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports, advising crews to evacuate. Jordan's Armed Forces reported that their air defenses intercepted and destroyed 18 out of 20 ballistic missiles fired at the Al Azraq base, with two missiles landing in unpopulated areas.
The attacks did not result in casualties, and specialized teams began securing locations where debris fell. Earlier, Iran's Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Ali Abdollahi, warned that Tehran would target US military installations if Iranian tankers were attacked.
The US had previously attacked three Iranian oil tankers on September 5, leading to one sinking, to which Iran responded by attacking three commercial ships and three US-linked vessels. Iran's top security official, Mohsen Rezaei, indicated plans to announce a restricted zone outside the Strait of Hormuz, warning that any ship entering this zone would face sanctions.
Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the US attacks on Iranian commercial vessels as violations of the United Nations charter and described them as war crimes, holding the US and its partners responsible for the consequences. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the strikes, asserting that the US would not back down in the face of Iranian aggression.
Al Jazeera's Mike Hanna reported that the attacks represent an escalation in the ongoing conflict, noting that the US is targeting new objectives in response to what it describes as Iranian attacks. He remarked that the economic impact of these strikes on Iran aligns with the US strategy of economic pressure on the country.
Additionally, the IRGC claimed to have captured an unmanned US submarine at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, which the US military stated had malfunctioned while surveilling regional waters.