US strikes five Iranian oil tankers, as Iran attacks 10 ships, Jordan base - aljazeera.com

**U.S. Strikes Five Iranian Oil Tankers Amid Rapidly Escalating Maritime Conflict**

The United States launched a coordinated air and naval strike on five Iranian‑flagged oil tankers on Tuesday, targeting vessels that U.S. officials say were transporting fuel for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The operation, carried out by carrier‑based aircraft and missile‑armed destroyers operating in the Strait of Hormuz, was framed by the Pentagon as a direct response to a series of Iranian attacks on commercial shipping and a U.S. warship earlier this week. U.S. Central Command confirmed that the tankers sustained “critical damage” but reported no casualties among their crews, and the strikes were executed without violating the territorial waters of any third‑party nation.

In retaliation, Iranian forces escalated the confrontation by targeting ten merchant ships and a Jordanian naval base situated near the Red Sea’s Bab al‑Mandab passage. Iranian militia boats fired upon the vessels, causing minor hull damage to three cargo carriers and temporarily disabling the Jordanian base’s radar array. While no lives were lost, the incidents sparked urgent calls for heightened maritime security from the International Maritime Organization and prompted the United Nations to convene an emergency meeting on the safety of the world’s most vital oil transit corridor.

The exchange marks the most significant maritime escalation since the onset of the Israel‑Hamas war, sending crude prices above $100 a barrel on global markets. Washington’s Republican leadership, including Senator Marco Rubio, reiterated a commitment to “continue hitting Iranian tankers” until Tehran ceases hostile actions, while Tehran’s foreign ministry accused the United States of “unlawful aggression” and warned of further reprisals. Analysts warn that the tit‑for‑tat cycle could jeopardize the free flow of energy supplies through the Hormuz Strait, prompting regional allies and European powers to push for diplomatic de‑escalation even as both sides appear poised for further strikes.