The United States has launched attacks on five Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman and near Kharg Island after accusing Iran of firing ballistic missiles at a US warship twice in two days. The US Central Command stated that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attempted to target a US warship, but the vessel "successfully evaded" the attacks, and no American personnel were harmed.

In retaliation, US forces struck and destroyed the tankers M/T Kaviz, M/T Charminar, M/T Horizon 1, and M/T Riesco in the Gulf of Oman, as well as M/T Derya near Kharg Island. Central Command said crews were ordered to abandon ship before the vessels were rendered inoperable. Iran's state broadcaster IRIB confirmed the attack near Kharg Island, which handled some 90% of the country's oil exports before the war, and reported the crew was evacuated.

Iran responded by firing missiles at the Al Azraq base in Jordan. Jordan's armed forces said their air defenses intercepted and destroyed 18 of 20 ballistic missiles, with the rest falling in open areas. No casualties were reported, and specialized teams secured the sites. The IRGC also claimed ballistic missile attacks on US Navy destroyers DDG-119 and DDG-53, alleging "significant damage" to the vessels.

The IRGC threatened to target oil tankers in Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports, warning crews to evacuate immediately. Iran's Armed Forces Chief of Staff Ali Abdollahi had earlier warned that any attack on Iranian tankers would result in strikes on US bases in the region. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, however, said Washington would continue to strike Iranian ships.

The exchange of fire comes amid escalating tensions in the Gulf six months into the US and Israel's war on Iran, with Tehran maintaining the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and Washington enforcing a naval blockade on Iranian ports. Oil prices briefly spiked to $99.46 earlier on Tuesday. The situation remains highly volatile, with both sides continuing to trade threats.

Source: www.aljazeera.com