US strikes five Iranian oil tankers as regional tensions escalate
US Central Command (Centcom) said the vessels were part of a multi-billion-dollar shadow network that finances Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
US forces struck five Iranian oil tankers after Iranian missile attacks on an American warship, targeting four vessels in the Gulf of Oman and another near Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export terminal, according to US officials.
US Central Command (Centcom) said the vessels were part of a multi-billion-dollar shadow network that finances Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), says the BBC.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran would continue losing tankers each time it targets US naval ships.
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Iran retaliates with missile attack
Iran retaliated by firing 20 missiles towards a US military base in Jordan, according to the information provided. Jordanian air defence systems intercepted 18 of the missiles, while two landed in unpopulated areas.
Centcom said no American troops were harmed in the attack.
Iran also warned crews of US-linked tankers near ports in Kuwait and Bahrain to evacuate immediately, raising concerns about the safety of commercial shipping in the region.
Iran's navy separately said it had seized an uncrewed US submarine in the Strait of Hormuz. Centcom disputed that description, saying the asset was an older, malfunctioning US underwater survey drone that carried no classified equipment or sensitive data.
Oil prices rise as tensions escalate
The military action contributed to higher global oil prices, with benchmark Brent crude rising 1.5% to $99.41 a barrel. US-traded oil reached $94.55 a barrel.
The escalation also added to regional security concerns after Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement launched drone and missile attacks on Saudi Arabian energy infrastructure.
The attacks injured 73 people and temporarily halted operations at oil facilities, according to the information provided.
The developments have heightened concerns over the security of energy infrastructure and shipping routes in the Gulf region, including the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil trade.
