Iran Strikes US Base in Jordan, Threatens Gulf Tankers; US Destroys 5 Iranian Vessels

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced it launched missiles at a U.S. military base in the Azraq region of Jordan. The IRGC stated this strike was retaliation for U.S. attacks on Iranian oil tankers. Simultaneously, the IRGC threatened to target oil tankers in Kuwait and Bahrain, issuing a warning for crews to "evacuate the ships immediately."

In response, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced its forces destroyed five Iranian oil tankers. This action was in retaliation for two attempts by the IRGC in the preceding two days to target a U.S. Navy warship with ballistic missiles. CENTCOM reported the warship evaded the attacks without casualties. Four of the targeted tankers were struck in the Gulf of Oman, and one near Kharg Island, with crews instructed to evacuate before the strikes. Washington asserted these tankers were part of an IRGC financing network and its regional proxies.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during a visit to Colombia, warned, "Every time Iran tries to target U.S. Navy ships, it will lose oil tankers in return." Arab media outlets had previously reported missile launches from Iranian territory toward Jordan, while air interception operations were reportedly detected over Israel.