US Strikes Five Iranian Oil Tankers in Retaliation for Missile Attacks
The US military has struck five Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, targeting vessels linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its regional proxies. The attack comes after the IRGC targeted a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles twice over the past two days.
According to CENTCOM, the US military struck four Iranian oil carriers in the Gulf of Oman: the M/T Kaviz, the M/T Charminar, the M/T Horizon 1 and the M/T Riesco. The fifth vessel, the M/T Derya, was attacked near Kharg Island in the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM linked these five vessels to the IRGC, stating that Iran has used them as part of a multibillion-dollar shadow network that funds the IRGC and its regional proxies. The US military also claimed that Iran has no means by which to defend these vessels.