Iran's Revolutionary Guard fired ballistic missiles at a US military base in Jordan, where no Americans were harmed, and attacked 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz after the US destroyed five Iranian oil tankers. The attacks sent oil prices surging, with Brent crude nearing $100 a barrel, due to concerns over disrupted tanker traffic in the key energy conduit. Iran's strikes in Jordan were reportedly ineffective, with Jordanian air defenses intercepting 18 out of 20 Iranian missiles. This escalation marks a sharp increase in violence after a month of relative calm, with both sides targeting military and shipping assets.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-09,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Oil prices surged past $100 per barrel on Wednesday after a series of attacks in the Middle East, with Brent crude futures trading at $99.93 a barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude at $94.52 a barrel. The price hike comes as tensions between the US and Iran continue to escalate, with the US striking five Iranian oil tankers on Tuesday and Iran launching missiles at US targets in Jordan.
Saudi Arabia reported that its energy infrastructure was attacked by the Houthis, causing temporary pauses in operations and injuring 73 civilians. Saudi Arabia is the world's largest oil exporter, and the attacks have raised concerns about the security of global oil supplies.
The Strait of Hormuz has become a key concern, with just four ships passing through the waterway on Saturday and six on Sunday. Before the war, the strait carried more than 20% of the world's energy supply as oil was shipped to ports around the globe.
In response to the attacks, the US Central Command said it destroyed five Iranian tankers, warning crews to abandon ship before striking. Iran has launched missiles at US targets in Jordan and warned tankers near Kuwait and Bahrain to evacuate.
The price of oil has been rising steadily since the start of the Iran war on February 28, with Brent crude surging as high as $126.41 a barrel on April 30. The global price of oil topped $100 a barrel for the first time since July, adding to uncertainty over future supply.
Meanwhile, a gallon of regular gasoline averaged $4.15 in the US on Tuesday, up 26% from a year ago.
Written for “Escalating Middle East Conflict” on 2026-09-09,
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Leaning score +0.35 for article 7262 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-09
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) said it fired ballistic missiles at a base in Jordan used by the US military and attacked 10 ships on Wednesday, after the US said it had destroyed five Iranian oil tankers, in a sharp escalation of the six-month-old war.
asserted
it → say → war
Increased attacks by both the US and Iran have shattered a month of relative calm, hitting military, shipping and energy assets, sending oil prices surging and drawing in regional allies in recent days.
The US military’s Central Command posted video of the strikes, which it called a response to IRGC targeting a US Navy warship twice with ballistic missiles over the previous two days.
asserted
IRGC → shatter → days
No Americans were harmed, the US said.
asserted
US → harm → ?
“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,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters during a visit to Colombia.
asserted
Rubio → continue → Colombia
Iran then carried out a ballistic missile attack on a base used by US forces near Al Azraq in Jordan, according to an IRGC statement on state media.
uncertain
Iran → carry → media
Although Iran said its missiles inflicted heavy damage, Jordan said its air defences intercepted 18 of the 20 Iranian missiles, with two falling in unpopulated areas, and that there were no casualties.
asserted
two → say → areas
A US official said Iran’s strikes in Jordan were ineffective and all American troops were accounted for.
asserted
troops → say → Jordan
The IRGC said on Wednesday it also attacked 10 ships, including two US Vessels and eight oil tankers, attempting to cross a “prohibited and unsafe” area of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy conduit largely choked off by Iranian attacks.
asserted
it → say → attacks
Iran has targeted US assets and allies in the region throughout the war, including in Jordan several times, killing at least two US military personnel during one strike in July.
asserted
Iran → target → July
Iran has also threatened oil tankers in Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports, according to a statement carried by state media.
uncertain
Iran → threaten → media
A maritime security source reported a liquefied natural gas tanker was damaged in the Emirati port of Khor Fakkan, though it was unclear who was responsible.
uncertain
who → report → Fakkan
Oil prices extended gains in early trade on Wednesday with Brent crude nearing $100 a barrel on market concerns over the disruption of oil tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
asserted
crude → extend → Hormuz
Recent attacks by Yemen’s Houthis on top energy producer Saudi Arabia have added to supply concerns.
Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia
On Tuesday, Houthis launched an attack on several cities in Saudi Arabia, further undermining regional stability.
The Houthi attacks wounded 73 people and set oil installations ablaze in what appeared to be a major expansion of the conflict, which began on February 28 with joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran.
asserted
which → add → Iran
The Houthis, who control most of Yemen’s populated areas, including the capital, have further pressured US allies by periodically disrupting shipping on the other side of the Arabian Peninsula, at the entrance to the Red Sea.
They said they had launched a broad operation deep into Saudi territory, using drones and missiles to strike a Saudi air base in the southern city of Khamis Mushait as well as Saudi state oil company assets in the cities of Abha, Najran and Jazan.
asserted
they → control → Abha
Saudi authorities reported blazes at the sites and said women and children were among the wounded.
asserted
women → report → wounded
The wider war in the Gulf has turned into a test of wills between the US and Iran, with each side hoping that economic pressure from competing blockades will force the other to yield.
asserted
pressure → turn → other
Washington is trying to increase the flow of oil to world markets by guiding ships through the Strait of Hormuz, while cutting off Iran’s exports with a blockade.
asserted
Washington → try → blockade
Central Command said the tankers it destroyed on Tuesday were part of a shadow network that funds the IRGC and its regional proxies.
asserted
that → say → IRGC
