Iran claims it has struck two U.S. Navy destroyers as part of its retaliation for American forces destroying five Iranian oil tankers Tuesday. U.S. Central Command says the attacks failed.
In a post on social media Wednesday morning, CENTCOM said, “No U.S. Navy warship has been struck; all IRGC attempted attacks failed.”
Download the Straight Arrow app today to get the stories that matter free from manipulation, bias or agenda.™
Point phone camera here
CENTCOM said U.S. forces have destroyed 10 Iranian tankers over the past week, saying they were “part of a multibillion-dollar shadow network that funds the IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps].”
US, Iran exchange attacks
Iran released video Wednesday of what it says were missiles and drones being launched toward U.S. vessels and oil tankers.
Tehran also says it fired missiles at U.S. targets in Jordan. Jordan’s military says 20 ballistic missiles were launched toward its territory — 18 were intercepted and two fell in remote areas, with no deaths reported.
“Iran’s response was ineffective in the face of integrated air and missile defenses,” a U.S. official told ABC News. “Iran fired missiles toward Jordan. American forces have 100% accountability at all locations in Jordan.”
The latest attacks follow U.S. strikes on five Iranian tankers Tuesday. CENTCOM says the tankers were targeted after Iran’s Revolutionary Guard tried to hit a U.S. Navy warship with ballistic missiles.
The Revolutionary Guard also warned oil tanker crews near ports in Kuwait and Bahrain to leave their ships, saying they could be targeted in retaliation.
Oil briefly tops $100
The latest escalation pushed oil above $100 a barrel Wednesday for the first time since July, as concerns grow about further disruptions to global supplies.
Brent crude, the international benchmark, climbed as high as $101 a barrel early Wednesday before falling back below $100. U.S. benchmark crude also climbed above $95 a barrel.
The renewed fighting is adding to concerns about global oil supplies as traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains sharply restricted. The waterway carried about a fifth of the world’s oil and gas before the war.
Round out your reading
- Lawyer says 57 Cornell frat members were in the group chat. Could their silence be a crime?
- Florida county discovers mysterious Flock cameras with no obvious owner.
- Off Script: They won their primaries on one message. Now it’s disappearing.
- Some question whether a popular affordable housing policy is making the nation’s home shortage worse.
- Kelvin wave incoming: Why the US should care.
