US destroys five Iranian oil tankers as Tehran fires 20 missiles at airbases in Jordan

American strikes on Iranian tanker fleet

United States Central Command carried out military strikes against five Iranian crude oil tankers operating across key shipping lanes in the Middle East. Four of the vessels, identified by military authorities as the M/T Kaviz, M/T Charminar, M/T Horizon 1, and M/T Riesco, were destroyed in the Gulf of Oman. A fifth tanker, the M/T Derya, was struck near Kharg Island in the northern Persian Gulf. Military officials stated that crews aboard all five ships received advance warnings to evacuate before the strikes commenced. Video footage released by US forces showed precision missile impacts focused on the engine rooms of the vessels, leaving them unusable. The operation followed an earlier strike on Saturday, when the American military targeted three other Iranian oil tankers in regional waters.

Strategic context and Kharg Island

Central Command declared the tanker strikes a direct response to two separate ballistic missile attacks launched against an American warship over the previous two days. The US Navy vessel took evasive action and avoided damage, resulting in zero American casualties. American defense officials stated that the targeted vessels belonged to a multi-billion-dollar shadow fleet utilized by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to evade sanctions and finance military operations. Iran remains heavily reliant on crude oil exports routed through the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. Kharg Island serves as Tehran's primary crude oil export terminal, having previously been a recurring target during the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War. Iranian media outlets reported several loud explosions across Kharg Island, including near the main port facilities, as well as near the coastal city of Jask.

Iranian retaliation against Jordan

Iran responded to the destruction of the tanker fleet by launching a wave of ballistic missiles toward military facilities in Jordan. Iranian state-run media, including the Tasnim and Fars news agencies, stated that the barrage targeted the Al-Azraq air base, which hosts American military personnel and combat aircraft. Iranian officials claimed the strikes inflicted substantial damage on maintenance buildings and hangars housing US F-15, F-16, and F-35 fighter jets. Reports from Tasnim indicated that explosions occurred across two separate military installations in Jordan hosting American units. In an additional statement, the Revolutionary Guard claimed it had struck two American destroyers carrying cruise missiles. Revolutionary Guard commanders also issued direct threats against maritime traffic, warning that oil tankers registered to Kuwait and Bahrain would become targets for future attacks.

Jordanian interceptions and military response

Jordanian armed forces activated regional air defense batteries during the early morning hours to engage the Iranian missile barrage. The state-run Petra news agency confirmed that air defense systems intercepted 20 incoming ballistic missiles over national territory. Eighteen of the missiles were destroyed in mid-air, while two projectiles landed in unpopulated remote areas, causing no reported injuries. United States Central Command stated that it had no operational information to offer regarding the missile impacts on Jordanian air bases. Jordanian military officials confirmed that no casualties or base destructions were recorded in the country.