The rapidly escalating confrontation between the United States and Iran intensified dramatically Tuesday night, as U.S. forces destroyed five Iranian oil tankers linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — and Tehran responded hours later by launching a major missile barrage reportedly aimed at U.S. military positions in Jordan.

U.S. Central Command confirmed Tuesday that American forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil tankers after the IRGC twice attempted to strike a U.S. Navy warship with ballistic missiles over the previous two days. The American warship successfully evaded both attacks and continued its patrol, with no U.S. personnel injured.

“In response to Iran’s most recent failed attacks, CENTCOM destroyed the IRGC crude oil carriers M/T Kaviz, M/T Charminar, M/T Horizon 1 and M/T Riesco in the Gulf of Oman, as well as M/T Derya near Kharg Island,” CENTCOM said.

U.S. forces first ordered the crews aboard the tankers to abandon their vessels before striking and rendering them inoperable.

“Iran has used the tankers as part of a multibillion-dollar shadow network that funds the IRGC and its regional proxies. Iran has no means by which to defend these vessels,” CENTCOM said.

The strikes represent a significant expansion of Washington’s campaign to cripple Tehran’s ability to finance its military and terror proxies through oil exports. Reuters reported that the renewed fighting has become an increasingly intense economic and military showdown, with Washington seeking to choke off Iranian exports while maintaining commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

Tuesday’s operation came just three days after CENTCOM destroyed three additional Iranian crude oil carriers. On Sept. 5, the IRGC fired ballistic missiles toward a U.S. aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyer patrolling regional waters. Both American vessels successfully evaded the attacks.

“All IRGC attempts against U.S. Navy warships have failed,” CENTCOM said.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio made clear Tuesday that the Trump administration intends to impose a steep price on Tehran every time it attempts to attack American forces.

“Iran continues to try to hit U.S. naval ships,” Rubio told reporters.

“And for every time they do that or try to do that, they’re going to lose tankers.”

“And I think you’ll see that again today,” Rubio added, shortly before the latest U.S. strikes were confirmed.

Hours later, Iran appeared to launch its response.

Iranian state-linked media reported Tuesday night that Tehran had launched a wave of missiles toward U.S. military positions in Jordan, describing the attack as retaliation for the American strikes on Iranian oil tankers. Iranian reports claimed explosions at two U.S. positions, although those claims had not been independently verified and neither U.S. nor Jordanian authorities had immediately confirmed damage from the reported attack.

Iranian media reported missiles being launched from as many as 12 locations across Iran in what appeared to be one of Tehran’s largest barrages since the conclusion of Operation Roaring Lion.

Dramatic video recorded from Israel showed missiles streaking through the nighttime sky over neighboring Jordan, with apparent interceptions visible in the distance.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage from Tuesday night’s barrage.

Jordan has repeatedly demonstrated that it will defend its airspace against Iranian missiles. Just one day earlier, the Jordanian Armed Forces said its air defenses intercepted and destroyed eight Iranian missiles headed toward Jordanian territory, with falling debris causing no reported casualties or property damage.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)