Iran strikes 10 ships in Strait of Hormuz after US attack on oil tankers

Tension between the United States and Iran has flared up again. According to information from Washington, the US military attacked five Iranian oil tankers on Tuesday. Within hours, Iran fired 20 ballistic missiles towards a US military base in Jordan. Jordan's army claimed its air defence system shot down 18 of the missiles mid-air, while the remaining two landed away from populated areas.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that over the past two days, Iran had twice tried to target a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles. In response, the US military struck oil tankers linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). After the US attack, Iran claimed it had struck 10 ships in the Strait of Hormuz, including two US ships and eight oil tankers. Iran said all these ships were passing through a restricted zone. Iran also claimed it had seized a US underwater drone.

According to CENTCOM, Iran tried to target a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles, but the warship thwarted the missile attack. No US soldiers were injured in the incident, and US warships continue to patrol the area.

CENTCOM said the US targeted four oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman and another ship near Kharg Island. The US claims the five oil tankers struck were part of a secret, multi-billion-dollar network that raises funds for Iran's Revolutionary Guard and its allied nations. The US military said crew members on board the ships had been instructed to evacuate before the strikes.