US Strikes Iranian Oil Tankers, Escalating Tensions with Tehran
The US military has struck five Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, sinking one and severely damaging another. The vessels were reportedly linked to an Iranian network used to finance the Revolutionary Guards and its regional allies.
The strike comes after Iran retaliated with missile attacks against a US base in Jordan, which was largely intercepted by Jordanian forces. Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed they had attacked two US vessels, eight oil tankers, and 10 'non-compliant' vessels attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
The latest exchange marks a significant escalation in direct confrontation between Washington and Tehran, following Iranian attacks targeting a US warship with ballistic missiles. The US has warned that any further attempts by Iran to attack American naval ships will result in further strikes against Iranian oil tankers.