These attacks provoked a serious response from Iran – the country launched a missile salvo at Jordan, a US ally in the region, claiming that its targets were US military facilities.
Read more Poland plans to develop cheap rockets for drone defense
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that on Tuesday four oil tankers were hit in the Gulf of Oman and one near Chargo Island – the center of Iranian oil exports in the Persian Gulf.
A post published on the military forces’ social media shows one of the ships, identified as “M/T Riesco,” engulfed in flames and sinking in the Gulf of Oman.
According to the US Central Command, the crews of the ships targeted before the strikes were instructed to evacuate. Iranian state media confirmed that the crews of two ships were brought ashore by rescue boats.
These US strikes were a response to two Iranian attempts in the past two days to attack a US Navy ship. CENTCOM stated that the US ship evaded the missiles and continued patrolling the region’s waters. As the command added, “no Americans were harmed.”
The exchanges of strikes are taking place as the US announced it is focusing its strategy on increasing economic pressure on the Tehran regime. It is claimed that priority is given to strikes or neutralizing targets in and around the Strait of Hormuz, thus conducting escort operations for commercial vessels through this important waterway and maintaining a naval blockade of Iranian ports.
Iran responded to the US strikes by launching missiles at Jordan, claiming it targeted the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base – an important facility used by US forces.
Read more Completed welding of Rail Baltica tracks into continuous long rails
The Jordanian military reported that its air defense forces withstood 20 ballistic missiles, of which 18 were successfully destroyed, and two fell in uninhabited areas.
“The attack on Jordan shows a significant geographical expansion of direct Iranian military activity and indicates an increasing risk that the conflict will spread beyond the main warring parties,” assessed the maritime intelligence and tracking company “Marisks” in a report published on Wednesday.
Iran’s repeated attempts to attack US warships and the increased “quality and quantity” of missiles launched at US targets in the region indicate a “trend of gradual escalation,” says Hamidreza Azizis, senior Iranian analyst at the think tank International Crisis Group.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, visiting Colombia, warned Tehran that the US will respond every time Iran attacks US warships.
“Iran continues to try to attack US warships, and every time they do or try to do so, they will lose tankers,” he said.
Read more In this country’s small town, 1000 dentists work – and there is a serious reason for it
