Key Takeaways
- Iran's Revolutionary Guard fired missiles at a US base in Jordan and attacked 10 ships.
- The US military destroyed five Iranian oil tankers in response to the attacks.
- Oil prices surged due to concerns over potential disruption of oil tanker traffic.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) launched a series of attacks on Wednesday, targeting a US military base in Jordan and 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz, according to a statement by the IRGC.
The attacks came in response to the US military's destruction of five Iranian oil tankers, which it said were used to transport weapons to Yemen's Houthi rebels.
The US military's Central Command released a video showing the strikes, which it described as a necessary response to IRGC attacks on a US Navy warship.
Jordanian air defences intercepted 18 out of 20 Iranian missiles, with two falling in unpopulated areas, and no casualties were reported.
The IRGC also claimed to have attacked 10 ships, including two US vessels and eight oil tankers, attempting to cross a 'prohibited and unsafe' area of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has been targeting US assets and allies in the region throughout the six-month conflict, including in Jordan, where it has killed at least two US military personnel during one strike in July.
Iran has also threatened oil tankers in Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports, according to a statement by state media.
A maritime security source reported a liquefied natural gas tanker was damaged in the Emirati port of Khor Fakkan, though the responsible party was unclear.
Oil prices extended gains in early trade, with Brent crude nearing $100 a barrel, due to market concerns over the potential disruption of oil tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
Recent attacks by Yemen's Houthis on Saudi Arabia have added to supply concerns, with the Houthi group launching an attack on several cities in Saudi Arabia, wounding 73 people and setting oil installations ablaze.
