On Tuesday, US forces attacked five Iranian tankers, sinking one of them, in retaliation for Tehran striking an American naval vessel twice, according to US Central Command (Centcom). Centcom said four Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman tied to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) were hit, along with another tanker near Kharg Island, a major oil terminal off Iran’s coast.
Iran fired missiles at a US base in Jordan, and most were destroyed in the air. The country also claimed it struck two US ships and eight oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Tankers Hit
A ship named M/T Riesco sank in the Gulf of Oman after being hit. Centcom put out a video on X showing the damaged vessel.
Five Iranian oil tankers hit by the US were described as part of a multi-billion-dollar shadow network that funds the IRGC and its regional proxies, according to the US.
The Gulf island of Kharg is home to Iran’s primary terminal for exporting crude oil. One Iranian tanker was attacked there, and roughly nine out of every ten barrels of the country’s crude pass through the island via pipelines from the mainland.
Missiles Over Jordan
An official spokesperson for the Jordanian Armed Forces said that 18 out of 20 Iranian missiles were shot down by Jordan. The remaining two landed in unpopulated areas.
Ballistic missiles launched by Iran against a US naval ship preceded the assaults on the American base. Centcom reported that the missiles were “successfully evaded” and that no American troops sustained any harm during the attacks.
The Strait of Hormuz Response
On Wednesday, state media reported that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed to have struck two US ships, eight oil tankers, and ten “non-compliant vessels” attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz, following warnings of additional strikes.
In the last week, the exchange of attacks has become more intense, coming more than six months after the United States and Israel struck Iran on 28 February.
Oil Prices Move
Crude prices climbed in Asian trade. Brent, the benchmark, moved up 1.5%, settling at $99.35 a barrel, while US-traded oil gained 1.3% to reach $94.23.
The strain on crude prices has grown because of broader problems in the region.
Attacks in Saudi Arabia
On Tuesday, Saudi authorities reported that Yemen’s Houthi movement, backed by Iran, struck oil facilities and public infrastructure inside Saudi Arabia, leaving 73 people hurt.
Saudi Arabia’s military and energy ministry reported that fires broke out at oil facilities and installations following a drone and missile attack, resulting in a temporary suspension of operations.
Rubio’s Response
Marco Rubio, serving as US Secretary of State, told reporters that the latest strikes were “pretty straightforward” when questioned about them.
Rubio warned that Iran’s repeated attacks on US naval vessels will keep costing them tankers, telling reporters during a trip in Colombia: “I think you’ll see that again today.”
The Seized Submarine
On Tuesday, Iran’s navy said it had captured an uncrewed US submarine in the Strait of Hormuz. The US strikes followed that announcement by a few hours.
Centcom spokesperson US Navy Captain Tim Hawkins said that an “underwater drone operated by US forces malfunctioned more than a day ago,” adding that it had been used to survey regional waters “in support of ongoing operations.”
He described the faulty drone as an older model that did not collect any sensitive data and carried no classified sonar or radar equipment. He added that US operations in regional waters continued.
What’s at Stake
| Target | Location | Reported Result |
|---|---|---|
| Five Iranian oil tankers | Gulf of Oman, Kharg Island | One sank (M/T Riesco) |
| US base in Jordan | Jordan | 18 of 20 missiles shot down |
| Two US vessels, eight tankers | Strait of Hormuz | Claimed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards |
| Saudi oil facilities | Saudi Arabia | Fires, temporary halt in operations |
A new phase has begun in the war, one that started when US and Israeli forces struck Iran on 28 February.
The Revolutionary Guards of Iran have vowed further action, while the United States has declared it will continue striking tankers linked to the IRGC’s funding network.
With additional reporting from Peter Hoskins.
Source: bbc.co.uk