The war in the Middle East continues to escalate, with Iran attacking a US base in Jordan and the US striking several Iranian vessels.
On Tuesday, the Iranian military said it fired 20 missiles at the Al-Azraq base in Jordan. “In response to the US’s aggressive actions against Iranian oil tankers, armed forces, in accordance with their inherent right of legitimate defense, attacked US military bases and facilities located in Jordan, which continues to support US military attacks against Iran, as well as several US vessels,” the statement said.
Iran says the missiles damaged buildings used by US fighter jets. Jordan disputed the Iranian statement, saying that 18 of the missiles were intercepted, with two falling in unpopulated areas. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said no US forces were injured in the attack.
Tehran also claims it targeted two US destroyers, causing “significant damage.” CENTCOM said no US ships were damaged, and the US responded by targeting five Iranian tankers.
“CENTCOM forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers, Sept. 8, after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles twice over the past two days.” The statement from CENTCOM continued, “The US warship successfully evaded the attempted Iranian attacks and continued to patrol regional waters. No American personnel were harmed.”
The war in the Middle East has rapidly escalated since the US broke the ceasefire and attacked Iran’s Larak Island on August 30. An IRGC spokesman said Wednesday that Iran will respond to future US attacks by targeting multiple sites.
“We even have the capability to hit targets at this distance of 400 kilometers (250 miles), and some time ago, we targeted an American aircraft carrier at a distance of 500 kilometers (310 miles),” IRGC spokesman Brig. Gen. Hossein Mohebi claimed, adding that Iran has “reached a point where if the enemy hits two or three of our targets, we will respond firmly with 20 targets.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a similar threat on Tuesday. “Iran continues to try to hit US naval ships. And for every time they do that or try to do that, they’re going to lose tankers. And I think you’ll see that again today,” he said.
Tehran also claims it targeted two US destroyers, causing “significant damage.” CENTCOM disputed Iran’s claims that American warships were damaged. The US said its strikes on five Iranian tankers were retaliation for earlier Iranian attempts to hit a US Navy warship. CENTCOM said the Iranian claim was false. However, at least one cargo ship near Iraq was hit in the Persian Gulf.
The renewed fighting in the Middle East has pushed the price of Brent crude oil back over $100 per barrel.
