Iran attacks US bases and ships in Jordan and the Strait of Hormuz
Quick Look
- The Iranian Revolutionary Guard claims to have attacked two US destroyers and the Al Azraq base in Jordan, as well as a dozen ships in the Strait of Hormuz and eight oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, in retaliation for US bombings against Iranian oil tankers.
- The Jordanian Army reported the destruction of 18 Iranian missiles aimed at its territory.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Iranian attacks are retaliation for US bombings against Iranian oil tankers hours earlier, according to the IRGC statement. US Central Command claimed to have destroyed five IRGC-linked vessels in response to previous attacks by Tehran against a US warship.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard claimed to have attacked two US warships and Washington bases in Jordan early this Wednesday, along with a dozen ships trying to cross the Strait of Hormuz, in retaliation for the White House attacks against Iranian oil tankers.
According to a statement from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) - collected in the Iranian agency Tasnim -, Tehran attacked the Al Azraq base in Jordan and two US destroyers carrying cruise missiles.
Later, the IRGC indicated - in another statement - that it also attacked a dozen ships tonight that were trying to cross "a prohibited zone" of the Strait of Hormuz with the support of the United States and eight oil tankers in the waters of the Persian Gulf.
"The Strait of Hormuz is under the strong and effective surveillance and management of the IRGC naval force," says the information note, collected by the IRNA agency.
For its part, the Jordanian Army claimed to have destroyed eighteen Iranian missiles that were headed towards its country, while two more fell in "despopulated areas."
These attacks by the Islamic Republic are a retaliation against the US bombings on Iranian oil tankers hours earlier.
The US Army's Central Command claimed to have destroyed five vessels linked, they say, to the IRGC in response to Tehran's previous attacks against a US warship.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The United States could respond with new military strikes against Iranian targets in response to tonight's attacks
Likely · Within days
Diplomatic efforts could be intensified to prevent further escalation, possibly through Swiss or Omani channels that typically mediate between Iran and the US.
Possible · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What was the exact damage caused to the attacked ships and bases?
- Are there human casualties reported in the attacks?
- What type of missiles did Iran use in its attacks?
- Will the exchange of attacks continue or are diplomatic efforts underway?
