US destroys five Iranian oil tankers after missile attacks on warship; Iran strikes US base in Jordan

The United States destroyed five Iranian oil tankers Tuesday following accusations that Iran had twice targeted a US warship with ballistic missiles and Tehran responded with missile attacks on US forces in Jordan, deepening a widening confrontation in the Middle East, Al Jazeera reported.

US Central Command said the Iranian vessels were destroyed in the Gulf of Oman and off Kharg Island following the Iranian attacks on an American warship. The warship dodged the missiles and no American personnel were injured, the US military said. The crews of tankers were ordered to abandon the vessels prior to the strikes.

Later, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it targeted two American vessels and other ships in and around the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian forces also fired ballistic missiles at Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan, where US troops are stationed. Jordan’s military said its air defences intercepted 18 of the 20 missiles and there were no reports of casualties.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Iran that Washington would continue to strike tankers if Tehran attacks American warships.

The latest spat risks more disruption around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for world oil supplies. As investors assessed the risk of a broader regional conflict, oil prices sharply increased, with Brent crude approaching $ 100 a barrel.