U.S. Central Command says it hit dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps targets across Iran, ending a brief pause in military action against Tehran. Iran's guard corps threatened to retaliate the same day and said it keeps full control of the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude traded 1.1% higher at $91.78 a barrel after surging more than 7% on Wednesday.
U.S. Central Command said it completed a heavy wave of strikes against dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps targets across Iran at 10 p.m. ET on Wednesday. The operation struck military command centers, missile and drone facilities, coastal surveillance and defense sites, and maritime capabilities operated by the IRGC.
The strikes answered Iran's attempted attacks on U.S. forces, and CENTCOM said they were intended to further diminish threats posed by Iran and its proxy groups to U.S. forces, commercial shipping and neighboring Gulf countries. Analysts at Deutsche Bank noted the strikes seemed limited to IRGC sites and did not include civilian infrastructure.
Iran had launched multiple ballistic missiles at U.S. forces in Jordan on Wednesday, but all were intercepted and no casualties were reported, according to CENTCOM. President Donald Trump then told Fox News that Iran would be targeted following the attack.
Iran threatens retaliation the same day
The IRGC threatened further escalation on Thursday, according to CNBC, saying it "will punish the aggressor today" and warning that countries aiding the U.S. would receive a harsh response.
Iran's guard corps also said it maintains full control of the Strait of Hormuz, where tanker traffic has effectively halted. Tehran rejected Oman's proposal to divide control of shipping through the strait evenly, demanding total oversight of inbound traffic and partial oversight over outbound lanes.
Brent crude trades at $91.78 a barrel
Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, traded 1.1% higher at $91.78 a barrel after surging more than 7% on Wednesday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures advanced 6.6% to settle at $84.46 in Wednesday's session, CNBC reported.
Fighting widens beyond Iran
U.S. and Saudi fighter jets targeted Iran-backed militia positions in Iraq, while an apparent drone attack struck an American-owned tanker off Egypt's Mediterranean coast. Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis have also launched attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, raising fresh concerns over the security of key energy trade routes.
More than 50,000 U.S. service members remain deployed across the Middle East and are combat-ready, according to CENTCOM.
OPEC+ is expected to announce a supply increase of 188,000 barrels per day for September at its Aug. 2 meeting, CNBC reported.
Sources: Investing.com, CNBC
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