Iran Strikes Back at US Base in Jordan Amid Escalating Oil Tanker Dispute
Tensions between Iran and the US have escalated as Iran launched a series of missiles at a US base in Jordan, allegedly in retaliation for the destruction of five Iranian oil tankers. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that the US had attacked several Iranian commercial and oil vessels.
A spokesperson for the Jordanian Armed Forces said 20 ballistic missiles were launched towards its territory, with 18 intercepted by the country's air defense system. Two missiles fell in areas devoid of population centers.
The IRGC also claimed to have targeted two US vessels and eight oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz as part of its wider retaliatory operations. However, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) denied these claims, stating that 'no U.S. Navy warship has been struck' and that all IRGC attempts had failed.
The escalation comes after CENTCOM said it destroyed five Iranian crude oil tankers in response to Iran targeting US Navy ships with ballistic missiles over the previous two days.