U.S. Destroys Five Iranian Oil Tankers in Retaliation for Ballistic Missile Attacks
U.S. Central Command forces destroyed five Iranian oil tankers on September 8, 2026, in response to Iran's attacks on a U.S. Navy warship with ballistic missiles. The attack was the second time this week that CENTCOM targeted Iranian vessels after they attempted to strike U.S. military assets.
The M/T Charminar, M/T Kaviz, M/T Horizon 1, and M/T Riesco were all left inoperable after being struck by the U.S. forces, which had instructed their crews to leave the tankers beforehand. The vessels were linked to a multibillion-dollar network that provides funding for the IRGC and its regional proxies.
The U.S. warship successfully evaded both missile attacks, with CENTCOM reporting no injuries to American personnel. Oil prices rose following the strikes near Kharg Island, an important Iranian crude-export hub, with Brent crude moving close to $100 a barrel.