US, Iran Engage in Fresh Strikes as Middle East Tensions Escalate
The United States and Iran have engaged in fresh strikes in the Middle East as tensions escalate. The US military launched attacks on Iranian targets, describing them as a response to Tehran's attempt to target a US warship with ballistic missiles.
Iran retaliated by firing a barrage of missiles at US military positions in Jordan, but the country successfully intercepted 18 out of the 20 missiles launched.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) also destroyed five Iranian crude oil tankers, including four vessels hit in the Gulf of Oman and one near Kharg Island. The crews were ordered to abandon the ships before the strikes, rendering them inoperable.
The Trump administration has imposed fresh sanctions on Iran's aviation sector, targeting more than two dozen commercial and private airlines as well as foreign cargo service providers.