Amman, Sep 09 (V7N)- Iran has launched a barrage of ballistic missiles toward Jordan after US forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil tankers in recent strikes, escalating tensions across the Middle East.
The Jordanian military said 18 of the 20 missiles fired by Iran were intercepted by the country's air defense systems. The remaining two missiles landed in uninhabited areas, and no casualties were reported.
According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), Iranian forces attempted to strike a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles twice over the past two days. The warship successfully evaded both attacks, after which US forces struck five Iranian crude oil tankers.
CENTCOM said four of the tankers were targeted in the Gulf of Oman and another near Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf. US forces reportedly ordered the crews to abandon the vessels before carrying out the strikes. No US military personnel were injured.
Iran Targets Jordanian Military Base
Iran said the missile attack on Jordan targeted Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, an important military facility also used by US forces.
The Jordanian military confirmed that its air defense systems intercepted most of the incoming missiles. The remaining missiles fell in uninhabited areas.
Iran has also threatened to target oil tankers near the ports of Bahrain and Kuwait. Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reported that crews of tankers docked at the two countries' ports had been warned to leave their vessels.
Rubio Warns of Further Tanker Strikes
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Washington would respond more forcefully if Iran continued targeting US naval vessels.
Speaking during a visit to Colombia, Rubio said that every time Iran attacks or attempts to attack a US Navy ship, it will lose oil tankers.
Earlier, US forces had attacked three Iranian crude oil tankers after Washington claimed that Iran's IRGC attempted to target a US aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer.
US Tightens Sanctions on Iran
Alongside military action, the Trump administration has also intensified economic pressure on Tehran.
On Tuesday, Washington imposed new sanctions targeting 27 Iranian airlines and nine aviation service providers and sales agents. The entities are accused of providing services to Mahan Air, which has been under US sanctions since 2011 over alleged links to the IRGC.
The latest developments have intensified fears of a wider regional confrontation as military activity, attacks on oil tankers, naval operations and economic sanctions continue to escalate around the Strait of Hormuz.
END/SMA/AJ
