Iran said on Wednesday it had attacked 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz after the United States sank five Iranian oil tankers, marking the biggest reported escalation in tit for tat attacks on shipping since the six month war began.
The strikes pushed oil prices above $100 a barrel for the first time since July. At least one seafarer was killed and another was reported missing after a tanker incident near Dubai.
The U.S. military said it destroyed five Iranian tankers after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards targeted a U.S. Navy warship with ballistic missiles. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would continue targeting Iranian tankers in response to attacks on U.S. naval vessels.
Iran also fired ballistic missiles at a base used by U.S. forces near Al Azraq in eastern Jordan. Jordan said it intercepted 18 of 20 missiles, with no casualties reported.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned that further U.S. attacks would trigger a much stronger response and said it planned to announce a larger maritime exclusion zone extending toward the Arabian Gulf.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries about one fifth of global oil supplies, has fallen sharply. Preliminary data showed only six ships crossed the waterway with transponders active over the previous 24 hours.
The conflict has also spread to Saudi Arabia, where Iran aligned Houthi forces launched attacks on several cities and oil installations. Saudi authorities said 73 people were wounded, while Pakistan sources said Saudi Arabia carried out retaliatory strikes in Yemen.
The escalating attacks across the Gulf and Red Sea have increased concerns over global energy supplies and shipping security.
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