US Strikes Five Iranian Oil Tankers in Escalating Conflict

The U.S. military has struck five Iranian oil tankers in response to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launching ballistic missiles at two American warships on consecutive days. The strikes, which took place between September 5 and 8, targeted vessels that were part of a multibillion-dollar shadow shipping network used to fund the IRGC and its regional allies.

According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), three Iranian tankers were struck in the first wave of attacks on September 5: the M/T Downy off Kharg Island, the M/T Stark 1 near Jask on the eastern coast of the Strait of Hormuz, and a third unladen tanker, the M/T Kylo, in the Gulf of Oman. The crew of the M/T Kylo was warned to abandon ship before the strike.

CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper stated that if Iran shoots at U.S. ships, the U.S. will impose an even higher economic cost by taking out three of theirs. He emphasized that the U.S. will not hesitate to defend its forces and destroy Iran's limited and exposed oil fleet if necessary.