Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has launched a missile attack on a US air base in Jordan, escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington.
The attack on the Al-Azraq air base came on Wednesday, a day after US forces destroyed five Iranian oil tankers following an earlier attack on a US warship.
Jordan’s military said its air-defence systems intercepted and shot down 18 Iranian missiles aimed at the kingdom.
The latest exchange of attacks marks another escalation in the conflict, which has now entered its sixth month and is already disrupting global energy markets.
Iran continues to exert control over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil and gas shipping routes.
The disruption has contributed to a sharp rise in oil prices, with Brent crude moving closer to $100 a barrel.
Following the destruction of its tankers, Tehran also warned crews to leave oil vessels operating near US allies Kuwait and Bahrain, raising further concerns over shipping security in the region.
Iranian forces have additionally claimed to have seized an advanced US unmanned submarine drone in the Strait of Hormuz and launched ballistic missiles at two US destroyers.
US military officials, however, have downplayed the significance of the reported drone seizure, describing the equipment as an older model that was malfunctioning.
The latest developments come as Washington maintains pressure on Iran’s economy and ports.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that further attacks on American naval vessels would trigger additional strikes on Iranian tankers.
With tensions continuing to rise, fears are growing that further military action could disrupt energy supplies and deepen the impact of the conflict on global markets.
