Al Jazeera:
The United States has attacked five Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman and near Kharg Island after accusing Tehran of launching ballistic missiles at a US warship twice in two days.
Iran responded to Tuesday’s attacks by firing missiles at US forces stationed at the Al Azraq base in Jordan. It also claimed additional strikes on two US vessels and eight tankers in the region, saying the assaults caused “great damage”.
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.
The hostilities drove oil prices to $99.49 a barrel in early trading on Wednesday.
In a statement, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had sought to target a US warship twice over the past two days, but the vessel “successfully evaded the attempted Iranian attacks”.
“No American personnel were harmed,” it said.
CENTCOM said it responded by striking and destroying the Iranian oil carriers, 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.
“American forces directed the crews to abandon ship before the vessels were struck and rendered inoperable,” CENTCOM added.
