Pakistan, Sept. 9 -- Iran has sharply escalated its attacks against US forces and shipping in the region. The latest strikes came after the United States destroyed five Iranian oil tankers. Iran's Revolutionary Guard said it fired ballistic missiles at a US-linked base near Al Azraq in Jordan on Wednesday. Jordanian authorities said their air defences intercepted 18 of the 20 missiles. The remaining two missiles fell in unpopulated areas. No casualties reported.

A US official said the Iranian attack was ineffective. The official also confirmed that all American troops accounted for. Iran claimed its missiles caused heavy damage at the military site. The Revolutionary Guard also said it attacked 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz. The tar...