US Destroys 5 Iranian Tankers as Jordan Intercepts 18 of 20 Missiles
Updated
Updated · CNN International · Sep 8
US Destroys 5 Iranian Tankers as Jordan Intercepts 18 of 20 Missiles
3 articles · Updated · CNN International · Sep 8
Summary
Five Iranian tankers were struck by US forces after Tehran twice tried to hit a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles over the past two days, according to CENTCOM.
Four vessels were hit in the Gulf of Oman and one near Kharg Island after crews were told to abandon ship; the US said its ship evaded both attacks and no American personnel were harmed.
Twenty Iranian ballistic missiles were then fired at Jordan toward Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, a facility used by US forces; Jordan said it intercepted 18 and the other two landed in unpopulated areas, with no casualties.
Marco Rubio said Iran would 'lose tankers' every time it targeted US naval ships, underscoring a US campaign around the Strait of Hormuz that includes escorts, a blockade on Iranian ports and economic pressure.
Tuesday's escalation followed US strikes on three Iranian crude carriers at the weekend, while Washington also expanded pressure with sanctions on 27 Iranian airlines and nine service providers tied to Mahan Air.
With war-risk insurance skyrocketing, could this escalating naval showdown completely choke off the global oil supply through the Strait of Hormuz?
After ballistic missiles targeted US bases, what hidden threshold remains before this unprecedented maritime clash ignites a full-scale regional war?
Beyond geopolitical fallout, what catastrophic ecological damage will the deliberate destruction of five crude oil tankers unleash upon the Persian Gulf?