US strike sinks Iranian tanker, sparking retaliatory missile barrage at Jordan
The US military struck five Iranian tankers on Tuesday, sinking one, after Iran fired ballistic missiles at a US Navy warship, in a fresh escalation of fighting in the Middle East. The attacks prompted a significant retaliation from Iran, which launched a missile barrage toward regional US ally Jordan, saying it was targeting US military … The post US strike sinks Iranian tanker, sparking…
On Tuesday, the United States military conducted a strike on five Iranian tankers, resulting in the sinking of one vessel. This action occurred after Iran launched ballistic missiles at a US Navy warship, escalating tensions in the Middle East. In response, Iran carried out a missile barrage targeting Jordan, claiming it was aimed at US military assets.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that four crude oil carriers in the Gulf of Oman and another near Kharg Island, a crucial hub for Iranian oil exports in the Persian Gulf, were targeted. One of the ships, identified as the M/T Riesco, was on fire and sinking in the Gulf of Oman, according to a video shared on X by the military.
Prior to the strikes, US forces instructed the crews to evacuate the targeted vessels. The crew of two vessels was reportedly taken ashore in lifeboats by Iranian forces. The US strikes were a response to two Iranian attempts to attack a US Navy ship over the previous two days, during which the US ship successfully evaded the missiles and continued to patrol the region, with no casualties reported.
The exchange of strikes has heightened the conflict's intensity in the Middle East, with the US focusing on economic pressure through targeted strikes around the Strait of Hormuz and maintaining a naval blockade on Iranian ports. Iran's retaliation serves as a demonstration of the growing risk of conflict extending beyond the primary combatants, according to Marisks, a shipping intelligence and tracking firm.
Analysts and experts have noted an escalation in the "quality and quantity" of Iranian missile attacks on US targets in the region, with Iran threatening to target tankers near Bahraini and Kuwaiti ports. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Iran that every attack on its naval ships would result in the loss of tankers. The US campaign against Iran has imposed unprecedented pressure on the regime, but its leaders downplay the impact of sanctions, accusing the US of attempting to achieve its objectives through sanctions and war.
Iran's leaders have criticized the US for resorting to more sanctions as their "innovative" solution.
Written by urgent.news from Egypt Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
