Iran claimed it destroyed three F-35 fighter jets and killed several enemy officers and maintenance personnel in the attack.
On Thursday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that it launched ballistic missiles at Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan, alleging the strike destroyed three U.S. F-35 fighter jets, manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:LMT), caused "heavy damage" to three more, and killed several U.S. personnel, reported Al Jazeera.
Earlier, Tehran vowed further retaliation after overnight U.S. strikes, warning it "will punish the aggressor today," implying the U.S. and any countries supporting it. The IRGC also claimed “full control” of the Strait of Hormuz and warned against foreign interference, reported CNBC.
According to a Wall Street Journal report, Iran rejected Oman’s proposal to split control of shipping through the strategic waterway equally, instead demanding full authority over inbound traffic and partial control of outbound lanes.
The White House and Pentagon did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comments
At the time of writing, Brent crude oil futures were trading 1.08% lower at $87.12 per barrel, while the WTI crude oil futures were trading 0.58% lower at $84.13 per barrel.
Trump Seeks Tariff Power on Iran
Late Wednesday, U.S. military strikes on Iran and a drone attack on a U.S.-owned gas vessel in Egypt heightened concerns about a broader Middle East conflict.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces launched strikes on Iran in response to attempted Iranian attacks on U.S. forces stationed across the Middle East the day prior. President Donald Trump had earlier signaled a strong retaliation, telling reporters in the Oval Office, “We’re going to be hitting them very hard because it’s our turn to hit them. They know it’s coming.”
Trump also urged lawmakers on Wednesday to amend a proposed Russia sanctions bill to also give him authority to impose tariffs on Iran instead of relying solely on sanctions, despite the U.S. having just $60 million in goods trade with Iran in 2025.
IRGC said that the U.S. overnight strike hit two homes in Qeshm with bunker-buster bombs, killing a father, mother and child, and injuring two other children, as per Al Jazeera.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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