Iran attacks American base in Jordan, ships near Hormuz after US hits oil tankers

On Wednesday, Iran launched a series of attacks against American forces in the Middle East, escalating the conflict that has been ongoing for six months. The Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) fired ballistic missiles at a US military base in Jordan, while also targeting 10 ships, including two US vessels and eight oil tankers, in the Strait of Hormuz.

The US military confirmed the strikes, stating that no Americans were harmed in the incident. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized Iran's repeated attempts to target US naval ships, vowing that each such attempt would result in the loss of Iranian tankers. Iran claimed its missiles inflicted significant damage, but Jordan reported that its air defenses intercepted 18 out of 20 Iranian missiles, with no casualties.

The IRGC also stated that its strikes in Jordan were ineffective, with all American troops accounted for. Additionally, Iran has been targeting US assets and allies in the region, including in Jordan and Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports, threatening oil tankers. The attacks have caused oil prices to surge, with Brent crude nearing $100 a barrel due to concerns over the disruption of oil tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.

Simultaneously, Yemen's Houthi rebels have intensified their attacks on Saudi Arabia, wounding 73 people and setting oil installations ablaze, further destabilizing the region. The conflict between the US and Iran has become a test of wills, with each side attempting to exert economic pressure through competing blockades, aiming to force the other to yield.