Live Updates: U.S. military destroys 5 Iranian oil tankers, triggering retaliation against American base in Jordan
Iranian Missile Fire Targets Jordan After U.S. Tanker Strikes
Wertynews.com – Iran fired missiles toward U.S. targets in Jordan after American forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil tankers, escalating a confrontation that has already disrupted shipping, pushed oil prices higher and widened insecurity across the Middle East.
Jordan said its air defenses intercepted 18 ballistic missiles headed toward its territory. Two additional missiles landed in unpopulated areas, and the Jordanian military said there were no known casualties. U.S. Central Command said it had no information to provide when asked about the reported strike on a Jordanian air base.
The kingdom is a close U.S. partner and hosts American forces, leaving its military facilities exposed during repeated Iranian attacks. The missile launch followed a series of U.S. operations against tankers linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Five tankers rendered inoperable
U.S. Central Command confirmed Tuesday that it had destroyed five tankers associated with the Revolutionary Guard. Four vessels were struck in the Gulf of Oman, while the fifth was targeted near Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf, home to Iran's main crude-export terminal.
The command said the vessels were part of Iran's shadow fleet, a network used to move oil exports and produce revenue for the Iranian government. It said crews were instructed to abandon the ships before the strikes took place.
“American forces directed the crews to abandon ship before the vessels were struck and rendered inoperable,” Central Command said.
The operation was described as a response to unsuccessful Iranian missile attacks on a U.S. warship over recent days. American forces had also struck three Iranian oil tankers the previous weekend after an earlier attempted attack against U.S. Navy vessels.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Navy issued a further warning to crews aboard tankers near ports in Kuwait and Bahrain, telling them to leave their ships immediately. It said the vessels could be attacked in retaliation for the U.S. action against Iranian tankers.
Hormuz disruption broadens the regional crisis
The confrontation is unfolding against the backdrop of Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. Before the war began in February, roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supply passed through the strait. Traffic has since fallen sharply, interrupted only by short and limited periods of recovery.
The reduction in shipping has made the waterway a central concern for countries dependent on Gulf energy flows. It has also redirected attention toward other strategic passages, including the Bab al-Mandab strait near Yemen, a route that has become more important for Saudi oil exports as Hormuz traffic remains constrained.
Oil markets reflected the pressure early Wednesday. Brent crude, the international benchmark, traded above $99 a barrel, extending a climb that has continued since August. U.S. benchmark crude rose 1.2% to $94.17 a barrel.
Higher oil prices can affect consumers and businesses far beyond the region, particularly through fuel costs, transportation expenses and broader inflation pressures. The continuing danger around major sea lanes has also raised the stakes for governments considering whether to join maritime security efforts.
South Korean protesters oppose a Hormuz deployment
In Seoul, dozens of South Koreans gathered outside the U.S. embassy compound Wednesday to urge their government not to send troops to the Strait of Hormuz. Demonstrators carried signs reading “Do not join a war of aggression” while South Korean leaders considered what contribution the country might make to waterway security.
The protesters assembled on the steps outside the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts and voiced concern over the risks faced by potential troops.
“We cannot send our young people into a sea of death!” the protesters chanted.
South Korean defense authorities sent a fact-finding mission to evaluate conditions in Hormuz but emphasized that no deployment decision had been made. On Friday, South Korea said it was considering possible contributions to U.S. security efforts in the strait, provided such involvement would not weaken its own military readiness.
Iran warned that any South Korean deployment would be treated as direct backing for the side responsible for the aggression and could bring serious consequences. The warning illustrates the difficult calculation for governments weighing protection of commercial shipping against the prospect of becoming more directly involved in the conflict.
Fighting intensifies in Yemen
Elsewhere, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels said Saudi Arabia launched more than 30 strikes across several areas Wednesday. Saudi Arabia had not issued an official response to that claim.
The reported airstrikes came a day after the Houthis carried out major attacks on Saudi territory that injured dozens of people. Saudi authorities said the attacks caused temporary shutdowns at oil facilities and wounded 73 people early Tuesday.
Hostilities in Yemen intensified again last week when the Houthis began a major campaign to seize territory near Bab al-Mandab. Control and security around that passage have taken on added significance as the closure of Hormuz restricts Gulf exports.
The overlapping tensions in Jordan, the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and Yemen show how quickly the conflict is affecting multiple fronts. Military retaliation, threats to tanker crews and uncertainty over international deployments have combined to make already vital shipping routes more dangerous, while oil markets continue to react to the risk of prolonged disruption.
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