Iran strikes U.S. Jordan base, ships amid six-month escalation

Iran launched a series of missile strikes on a U.S. military base in Jordan’s Al Azraq region on Wednesday, marking the latest escalation in a six-month conflict that has also targeted ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for attacking 10 vessels, including two U.S. warships and eight oil tankers, while Jordan’s armed forces intercepted 18 of 20 missiles fired toward the country, with two falling in unpopulated areas. No casualties were reported in Jordan’s defense against the attack. The strikes followed a U.S. military response earlier this week, when Washington destroyed five Iranian oil tankers in retaliation for an attempted IRGC missile strike on a U.S. Navy warship. The U.S. warship, which successfully evaded both attacks, continued patrols without incident, with no American personnel harmed. Meanwhile, Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen launched attacks on Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, targeting energy infrastructure in southern cities and injuring over 70 people. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows, has become a focal point in the escalating tensions. Oil prices surged to $100 a barrel, their highest since May, with Brent crude climbing to 101.22 ($+3.30, +3.37%) amid heightened geopolitical risks. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Tehran that Washington would persist with strikes on Iranian oil tankers in response to such provocations, underscoring a broader escalation in regional security and market volatility.