Iran Strikes U.S. Targets as Conflict Escalates Across Middle East

Iran launched ballistic missiles at a military base used by American forces in Jordan overnight and claimed attacks against U.S. and commercial vessels near the Strait of Hormuz. Jordan said its air defences intercepted 18 of 20 missiles directed toward the base near Al-Azraq, with no casualties reported. Tehran also claimed it struck 10 ships—including two American vessels and eight oil tankers—although U.S. officials disputed that their ships had been damaged.

The attacks followed an announcement from the U.S. military that it had destroyed five Iranian oil tankers after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards launched missiles at an American warship. The U.S. said the missiles targeting its naval vessel missed and that crews aboard the Iranian tankers were warned to evacuate before the American strikes. The overnight exchange was described as the largest wave of attacks on shipping since the six-month conflict began, with at least one seafarer reported dead and another missing amid the maritime violence.

The escalation has increased the risk of a wider regional war and further disruption to global energy supplies. Iran has threatened to expand its restricted maritime zone beyond the Strait of Hormuz, while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that additional attacks on American vessels would bring further retaliation. Brent crude climbed above US$100 per barrel as markets reacted to the fighting and the threat to shipping through one of the world’s most important oil-export routes.