The US struck five Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman and near Iran's Kharg Island on Tuesday after accusing Tehran of targeting a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles twice for the past two days. The US's attacks prompted Iran to retaliate with missile strikes on an American base in Jordan in a sharp escalation of the ongoing war.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that the American warship successfully evaded both Iranian attacks and continued operating in regional waters. No US personnel were injured
In response to what it described as Iran's failed attacks, CENTCOM said US forces struck five vessels allegedly linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) oil-smuggling network. The ships were identified as M/T Kaviz, M/T Charminar, M/T Horizon 1 and M/T Riesco in the Gulf of Oman, and M/T Derya near Kharg Island.
US forces ordered the crews to abandon the vessels before carrying out the strikes, rendering the tankers inoperable, the military said. "The US warship successfully evaded the attempted Iranian attacks and continued to patrol regional waters. No American personnel were harmed," CENTCOM said.
CENTCOM accused Iran of using the vessels as part of a multibillion-dollar "shadow fleet" that helps fund the IRGC and its regional proxy groups.
"Iran has used the tankers as part of a multibillion-dollar shadow network that funds the IRGC and its regional proxies," CENTCOM said, adding that Iran had no means to defend the vessels.
TEHRAN RETALIATES
Iran responded to the US strikes by launching missiles at US forces stationed at the Al Azraq air base in Jordan, according to Al Jazeera. Jordanian authorities said their air defences intercepted and destroyed 18 of the 20 Iranian missiles, while the remaining two fell in open areas, Al Jazeera reported.
The IRGC claimed it carried out "fierce missile strikes" against Al Azraq and said hangars used by US fighter jets were destroyed. The claims have not been independently verified.
"We warn all the crews of oil tankers in the Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports... to immediately abandon their vessels, whether at anchor or at the ports, because they will be targeted," the IRGC said.
IRAN CONFIRMS ATTACK ON ITS TANKERS
The latest US operation follows another strike on Iranian oil carriers on September 5. CENTCOM said it destroyed three Iranian crude oil tankers after the IRGC attempted to attack a US aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer.
Washington has also imposed sanctions on 36 Iranian entities, including 27 airlines, in an effort to further isolate Iran's aviation sector.
