Iran Fires on Jordan Base in Retaliation

Iran has hit back at the US for its attacks on five Iranian oil tankers on Tuesday. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Wednesday it launched ballistic missiles at a base used by US forces near Al Azraq, Jordan, and claimed heavy damage, per Reuters. Jordan countered that 18 of the 20 missiles were intercepted, the rest landed in empty areas, and there were no casualties; a US official called the strikes ineffective.

Tehran also said it targeted 10 ships, including two US vessels and eight tankers, in a "prohibited" zone of the Strait of Hormuz, a corridor already strained by Iranian attacks. The action followed US strikes on four crude oil carriers in the Gulf of Oman, one of which sank, and one near Kharg Island, per CNN. Washington said those attacks were retaliation for an attempted IRGC missile hit on a US Navy warship. Oil prices have now topped $100 a barrel for the first time in six weeks on supply fears, per the AP.