The Trump administration condemned Iran’s latest escalation, noting that U.S. forces successfully neutralized five Iranian oil tankers on Tuesday and that no American personnel were harmed in the recent attacks.
Missile strike on Jordanian base
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced it fired ballistic missiles at a U.S.‑used base near Al Azraq, Jordan. Jordan’s air defenses intercepted 18 of the 20 missiles, with the remaining two landing in unpopulated areas. Jordanian officials reported no casualties, and a U.S. spokesperson confirmed that all American troops were accounted for.
Attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz
In a separate statement, the IRGC claimed it targeted ten ships – including two U.S. vessels and eight oil tankers – attempting to cross what it called a “prohibited and unsafe” zone of the Strait of Hormuz. The United States has been guiding commercial traffic through the waterway to keep global oil supplies flowing, while imposing a naval blockade to curb Iran’s export capacity.
U.S. Central Command released video of the Tuesday strikes that destroyed five Iranian tankers, describing them as part of a shadow network that finances the IRGC and its regional proxies. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking in Colombia, warned that Iran will continue to lose tankers for every attempt to target U.S. naval assets.
Regional fallout and oil market impact
The attacks have added to recent volatility in global oil markets, with Brent crude approaching $100 a barrel as traders react to the disruption of tanker traffic. Additional pressure on the region comes from Houthi militants in Yemen, who recently launched drone and missile strikes on several Saudi cities, injuring dozens and igniting oil installations.
Saudi Arabia, leading an Arab coalition against the Houthis, reported women and children among the wounded, underscoring the humanitarian stakes of the broader Gulf conflict.
U.S. policy response
President Trump’s administration continues to pursue a two‑track strategy: increasing the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz to stabilize world markets while tightening the maritime blockade that limits Iran’s ability to fund its “Axis of Resistance,” which includes Hamas, Hezbollah, Iraqi Shi’ite militias and the Houthis.
Washington’s message remains clear: the United States will defend its forces, protect allied nations, and ensure the free movement of commerce in the region.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
