U.S. Destroys Five Iranian Tankers, Prompting Missile Strikes on Jordan

U.S. military forces destroyed five Iranian oil tankers on Tuesday, escalating tensions in the Middle East and prompting Iran to launch retaliatory missile strikes at American targets in Jordan. The conflict continues to destabilize global energy markets, with crude prices climbing back toward $100 per barrel.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the operation, stating that the strikes were conducted in response to recent unsuccessful ballistic missile attacks by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard against a U.S. warship. The command released video footage of the operation, alleging that the five vessels were part of Iran’s “shadow fleet,” a network utilized to export crude and fund the regime.

According to CENTCOM, four of the tankers were hit in the Gulf of Oman, while a fifth was struck near Kharg Island, Iran’s primary crude export terminal in the Persian Gulf. The military asserted that American forces directed crew members to abandon ship before rendering the vessels inoperable. This action followed a similar strike last weekend, where three Iranian tankers were destroyed in retaliation for earlier attempts on U.S. naval ships.

In immediate response, Iranian state-run media reported that Tehran had launched missiles at U.S. assets in Jordan. Jordanian military sources stated that their air defense systems intercepted 18 ballistic missiles targeting the territory, with two others landing in unpopulated areas. The Jordanian defense ministry reported no casualties from the incident.

The region remains volatile as open hostilities resume. Oil prices for Brent crude traded above $99 early Wednesday, continuing an upward trend observed since late August. U.S. benchmark crude also rose 1.2% to $94.17 per barrel. Prior to the war beginning in February, approximately 20% of the world’s oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz, but traffic has significantly decreased since, with only brief periods of limited recovery.

Meanwhile, violence has reignited in Yemen, where Iran-backed Houthi rebels reported more than 30 Saudi airstrikes across several regions on Wednesday. These strikes followed major Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia the previous day, which injured dozens of people and caused temporary shutdowns at oil facilities. The Houthis have intensified efforts to seize territory near the Bab al-Mandab strait, a route that has gained importance for Saudi oil exports now that Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz.

Additionally, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Navy issued warnings to crews of oil tankers near ports in Kuwait and Bahrain, ordering them to leave immediately and cautioning that the ships could be targeted in retaliation for the U.S. attacks on Iranian vessels.