By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – Iran on Wednesday claimed that it targeted 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz after the US sank 5 oil tankers belonged to Tehran, escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The latest attacks from both sides have sent the price of oil surging, with the international Brent crude benchmark breached $100 a barrel for the first time since July.
The average retail price of diesel fuel has hit a new all-time high above $5.94 a gallon in the US.
Tehran stated that it fired ballistic missiles at a base used by US forces in Jordan.
Media reported that recent attacks from both sides have shattered a month of relative calm, with the US and Iran continuing to attack military, shipping and energy assets.
There has been a major escalation in fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis in Yemen, reports stated.
US Central Command, in a post on X, shared video proof, stated that it destroyed 5 Iranian crude oil carriers, after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted a U.S. Navy warship with ballistic missiles twice over the past 2 days.
“The U.S. warship successfully evaded the attempted Iranian attacks and continued to patrol regional waters. No American personnel were harmed,” it added.
Iran said it is imposing a wider off-limits zone around the Strait of Hormuz and using new, more capable missiles to attack US ships.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told mediapersons during a visit to Colombia that Iran continues to hit U.S naval ships, and for every time they do that or try to do that, they’re going to lose tankers.”.
IRGC stated that it retaliated with a ballistic missile attack on a base used by US forces near Al Azraq in eastern Jordan, besides attacking two US vessels and eight oil tankers attempting to cross an area Strait of Hormuz that it has declared off limits.
