US Drones Wreak Havoc on Iranian Oil Fleet
The US military has destroyed five more Iranian oil tankers in response to missile attacks on its warship, the latest escalation in a conflict that is affecting global energy markets.
The strikes were carried out after Iran's Revolutionary Guards targeted a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles twice over the past two days. The warship successfully evaded the attempted Iranian attacks and continued patrolling regional waters, with no American personnel harmed.
The destroyed tankers include the Kivik, Charminar, Horizon 1, Riesco, and Derya. US Central Command said the crews of the vessels were told to abandon ship before the attacks.
The conflict is part of a dual economic and military approach by President Donald Trump as he struggles to bring an end to the war. The US has imposed sanctions on additional elements of Iran's aviation industry, targeting more than two dozen commercial and private airlines, as well as foreign cargo service providers.