On Wednesday, September 9, Iran said it attacked 10 vessels near the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for the US destruction of five Iranian oil tankers. This is the largest series of mutual attacks on shipping since the six‑month war began. Amid the strikes, the price of benchmark Brent crude oil rose above $100 per barrel, while the average retail price for diesel in the US reached a record $5.94 per gallon.
Beyond the maritime incidents, Iran reported a ballistic‑missile strike on a base used by US troops in Jordan. Jordan said its air‑defence systems intercepted 18 of the 20 missiles. A US official said the Iranian strikes were ineffective and that all American service members remained safe.
Escalation in the Strait of Hormuz
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American strikes on Iranian tankers were a response to actions by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which had twice fired ballistic missiles at a US Navy warship over the previous two days. Washington announced a new policy of targeting Iranian tankers in response to threats against its ships. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during a visit to Colombia, warned: “Iran continues to attempt to attack US Navy ships, and for every such attempt, they will lose tankers.”
The IRGC confirmed the missile strike on a base near Al‑Azraq in Jordan and reported attacks on two American vessels and eight oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has declared closed. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it received alerts about several merchant vessels that were damaged in the northern Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The agency could not verify reports of casualties or environmental impact.
Hostilities in Yemen and Saudi Arabia
At the same time, fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis in Yemen has intensified. On Tuesday the Houthis attacked four Saudi Arabian cities, causing large fires at oil facilities. Saudi Arabian authorities said 73 people were injured.
The Saudi Arabia-backed government in southern Yemen has launched a multi‑front offensive against territory held by the Houthis. The Houthis claim that a significant number of people have been killed by Saudi Arabian airstrikes.
Currently, Iran has sharply limited shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which handled one‑fifth of the world’s oil before the war. In the past 24 hours only six vessels with active transponders have crossed the strait, despite the blockade of Iranian ports imposed by the US.
Source: Channel NewsAsia
