Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed in a statement on Iranian media on Wednesday that it had attacked a US base in the eastern Jordanian city of Al Azraq with ballistic missiles in retaliation for earlier US attacks on Iranian oil tankers.
This came following reports of missiles being launched from 12 different cities across Iran in the heaviest barrage since the end of Operation Roaring Lion, Army Radio reported late Tuesday night, citing Iranian media.
At least 35 missiles were launched towards Jordan, according to Israeli news outlets, activating sirens in the country’s US military base.
Jordan has not yet confirmed reports of the strikes.
A US official told Jerusalem Post earlier on Tuesday that CENTCOM had struck the tankers as Iranian media outlets reported explosions near Kharg Island.
According to Iran‘s Mehr News Agency, there were explosions heard in the vicinity of the Iranian oil hub, which serves as the country’s main point for refining and exporting oil.
An additional report by semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that the attacks on the Iranian vessels left no casualties, with the tripulation aboard being evacuated.
The report, citing local sources, also said the targeted vessel was about four miles from Kharg Island.
Additionally, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing US officials, that Iran had launched an attack against US Navy ships on Monday that the US military has yet to acknowledge.
US forces struck multiple Iranian tankers tied to the IRGC in response to the attacks, according to a US official.
According to WSJ’s report, no American ships were struck in Iran’s Monday attacks, the report said, citing the officials.
Reuters could not immediately verify the report.
US, Iran, advance threats
Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters (the central command of the Iranian Army) warned the US that if its vessels were struck, then it would reply with strikes against American interests in the Middle East, Reuters reported, citing Iran’s state media.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said early on Wednesday that ships in Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports that host Americans will be targeted in response to US attacks on Iranian oil tankers.
The Guards Navy warned all crews to evacuate, according to a statement carried by state media.
Additionally, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Iran on Tuesday that the US would continue to strike Iranian oil tankers in retaliation for attempted attacks on US warships.
“Iran continues to try to hit Us naval ships, and for every time they do that or try to do that, they’re going to lose tankers,” Rubio told reporters during a visit to Colombia.
Iran ready to announce restricted zone in Strait of Hormuz
The American attack happened days after Mohsen Rezaei, the Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said that a restricted zone was planned to be announced outside the Strait of Hormuz soon.
The Sunday announcement, reported by state media, detailed that the zone would include areas in the Gulf.
Rezaei added that maps of ships’ passage in the Strait of Hormuz, agreed upon with Oman, would also be signed in the coming days.
This is a developing story.
