The
conflict intensified on September 8 when US Central Command destroyed the
tankers—named M/T Riesco, Kaviz, Charminar, Horizon 1, and Derya—as part of an
IRGC shadow funding network, after crews were ordered to abandon ship.
Iran hit back with reported strikes on two US vessels, eight oil tankers, and US bases in Jordan like Muwaffaq Salti, where footage showed direct missile impacts.
Casualty
reports differ: a Jordanian source cited injured US troops airlifted to
Germany, while a US official said all are accounted for. Brent crude surged
toward $100 a barrel as fears grew over Strait of Hormuz disruptions.