US Military Strikes Five Iranian Oil Tankers as Iran Retaliates Against US Base in Jordan

Dragon Media News Desk

The US military has struck five Iranian crude oil tankers, saying the attacks were carried out in response to two recent attempts to target a US warship over the past two days.

According to US Central Command, four of the vessels were linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and were operating in the Gulf of Oman. A fifth tanker was targeted near Kharg Island, Iran’s principal offshore oil export hub.

Following the US strikes, Iran launched missiles toward a US military base in Jordan. Jordan later said its air-defense systems intercepted 18 of 20 missiles fired from Iran. A spokesperson for the Jordanian Armed Forces said the remaining two missiles landed away from densely populated areas. No immediate casualty figures were reported.

Military exchanges between the United States and Iran have intensified over the past week, marking a significant escalation in a conflict that has continued for more than six months since US and Israeli attacks on Iran began on February 28.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy has meanwhile warned of further attacks against US-linked vessels near ports in Kuwait and Bahrain. It urged crews aboard vessels associated with the United States to leave their ships, warning that vessels docked or anchored in those areas could be targeted.

The escalation has increased pressure on global energy markets. During early Asian trading, benchmark Brent crude rose about 1.5 percent to US$99.41 per barrel, while US-traded crude climbed 1.6 percent to US$94.55 per barrel.

Kharg Island, the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz are strategically important to global oil exports and maritime trade. Continued attacks on tankers and military assets in and around these waters have heightened concerns over shipping security, energy supplies and the possibility of a broader regional confrontation.