Retaliatory strikes across the Gulf

United States Central Command confirmed on 8 September 2026 that American forces destroyed five Iranian oil tankers in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. The operation followed two Iranian ballistic missile attacks directed at a US Navy warship over the previous 48 hours. According to CENTCOM, the American vessel intercepted the incoming projectiles, sustained no damage, and continued maritime patrols. The strikes destroyed vessels near Kharg Island, a primary Iranian refining and export hub, and near the port of Jask. Military officials ordered crews to evacuate prior to the strikes, and Iranian state media confirmed that no crew members suffered injuries.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to reporters during an official visit to Colombia, warned that the United States would retaliate against Iranian commercial shipping whenever naval vessels faced threats.

“Iran continues to try to attack American warships and every time they do it or try to do it, they lose tankers.”

Missile barrage on Al-Azraq base

Tehran responded overnight into 9 September 2026 by launching a ballistic missile barrage targeting the Al-Azraq airbase in Jordan, located approximately 100 kilometres east of Amman. The base hosts American personnel along with technical facilities for F-15, F-16, and F-35 fighter jets. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated that the operation was intended to penalise American forces for targeting Iranian oil vessels. The Jordanian armed forces reported that air defence batteries intercepted 18 of the 20 ballistic missiles fired from Iranian territory, while the remaining two landed in unpopulated areas without causing casualties.

General Ali Abdollahi, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, stated that American military installations across the Middle East would face further bombardment if tanker strikes persisted.

“Every attack on Iranian tankers will be met with strikes by the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran on American bases in the region.”

Threats to Gulf shipping and regional ports

The IRGC also announced attacks on ten vessels navigating near the Strait of Hormuz, designating the passage as a restricted zone. Iranian military statements claimed that two American vessels and eight oil tankers suffered severe damage, though these claims lacked independent confirmation. In addition, Iranian commanders issued evacuation warnings to tanker crews in Kuwait and Bahrain, accusing both governments of facilitating American operations. Tensions extended to unmanned systems, with the IRGC claiming the capture of an advanced American underwater drone, while the US military stated that an older model drone had suffered a mechanical malfunction in the area.

Economic pressure and oil market reaction

The escalation follows the 24 August 2026 announcement of Operation Economic Outcast by Donald Trump, aimed at enforcing a naval blockade on Iranian fuel supplies. Iran faces a domestic fuel shortage of 15 million litres per day against a total daily requirement of 135 million litres. The renewed hostilities disrupted maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries one-fifth of global oil and gas exports. On 9 September, crude prices climbed, with Brent crude reaching 99.00 dollars per barrel on the ICE exchange and West Texas Intermediate reaching 93.95 dollars on NYMEX.

Brent crude (November)99

WTI crude (October)93.95

Brent crude (November)

99 $/bbl

WTI crude (October)

93.95 $/bbl

Data from the article text