US Military Destroys Five Iranian Oil Tankers After Missile Attacks
The US military claims to have destroyed five Iranian crude oil tankers following missile attacks on a US warship. This latest incident escalates tensions between the two nations.
Iran has launched missiles toward US targets in Jordan, according to Iranian state media, in response to previous American strikes.
This comes after the US Central Command confirmed the destruction of five Iranian tankers: Kivik, Charminar, Horizon 1, Riesco, and Derya. The crews were evacuated before the attacks.
These strikes follow a pattern of tit-for-tat actions; just three days prior, the US military targeted and destroyed three Iranian oil tankers after Iran’s Revolutionary Guard attempted to attack a US aircraft carrier and destroyer.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the US will not tolerate Iranian aggression:
"Iran continues to try to hit US naval ships… And for every time they do that or try to do that, they’re going to lose tankers."
However, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Navy warned crews of oil tankers near Kuwait and Bahrain to leave their vessels, implying potential retaliation for the US attacks.
This ongoing conflict poses significant risks to global economic stability, as experts like Danny Citrinowicz warn against a kinetic solution to the Strait of Hormuz issue, emphasizing the potential for further escalation.
