US Strikes Iranian Oil Tankers After Ballistic Missiles Fired at Navy Ships

The US military retaliated against Iranian forces for firing ballistic missiles at two of its warships by targeting three crude oil tankers operated by Iran's paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The strikes on September 5, 2026, disabled two of the tankers and rendered a third inoperable after the crew was allowed to abandon ship.

The US Navy ships, an aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer, were patrolling regional waters at the time and avoided the missile fire. No Americans were injured in the incident, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).

CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper warned that if Iran shoots at US ships, the US will impose an even higher economic cost by targeting Iranian assets. Cooper stated, 'Let the message to the IRGC be clear: If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost, taking out three of yours.'

The three tankers targeted are part of a network that funnels billions of dollars to the Revolutionary Guard and its proxies. CENTCOM alleged that Iran has no capability to defend its tanker fleet.