US Strikes Iranian Oil Tankers Amid Escalating Conflict
The US military has launched a series of strikes against three Iranian oil tankers in response to ballistic missile attacks on two American warships. The US Central Command (Centcom) said it had 'permanently disabled' one tanker near Kharg Island and another near the Strait of Hormuz, while 'completely destroying' a third in the Gulf of Oman.
Centcom claimed that the three Iranian oil tankers were part of a multibillion-dollar shadow network that funds the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its regional proxies. Admiral Brad Cooper, Centcom's commander, stated that the US would not hesitate to defend American forces and would take out Iran's limited and exposed oil fleet if necessary.
The strikes come after a period of renewed attacks between the US and Iran, which followed a lull in hostilities. The conflict over the Strait of Hormuz has raised energy prices globally, and US President Trump is facing pressure ahead of the midterm elections to address the costs of the war on American consumers.