Global

The situation in the Gulf has deteriorated considerably in the last twenty four hours, with Iran and the United States targeting oil tankers and strategic sites and military targets. The Arab Gulf States continue to pay a heavy price. The conflict that started in February has now dragged out longer than their worst nightmare. The United States has attacked five Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman and near Kharg Island after accusing Tehran of launching ballistic missiles at a US warship twice in two days. Iran responded to Tuesday’s attacks by firing missiles at US forces stationed at the Al Azraq base in Jordan. It also claimed additional strikes on at least two US vessels and eight tankers in the region, saying the assaults caused “great damage”. The exchange of fire comes amid escalating tensions in the Gulf six months into the US and Israel’s war on Iran, with Tehran closing the Strait of Hormuz and Washington enforcing a naval blockade on Iranian ports. The hostilities drove oil prices to $99.49 a barrel in early trading on Wednesday. In a statement late on Tuesday (8 September), the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had sought to target a US warship twice over the past two days, but that the vessel “successfully evaded the attempted Iranian attacks”. “No American personnel were harmed,” it said. CENTCOM said it responded by striking and destroying the Iranian 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. “American forces directed the crews to abandon ship before the vessels were struck and rendered inoperable,” CENTCOM added. It later published a video that it said showed the M/T Riesco sinking in the Gulf of Oman. Iran’s IRIB state broadcaster confirmed the attack near Kharg Island, which handled some 90 percent of the country’s oil exports before the war. It reported that the crew was evacuated and said a second tanker was hit near the southern port of Jask in the Gulf of Oman. It said it retaliated by subjecting Al Azraq base in Jordan to “fierce missile strikes” and claimed that hangars used by US fighter jets were destroyed in the attacks. (read the full report by clicking the image)