US Strikes Iranian Oil Tankers Amid Escalating Conflict
The US military has launched strikes against three Iranian oil tankers in response to what it claims were unprovoked missile attacks on American warships. The attacks occurred while a US aircraft carrier and destroyer were patrolling the region, and no US personnel were injured.
The US military said that two of the Iranian tankers were 'permanently disabled,' while the third was destroyed after being hit in the Gulf of Oman. The crew of this tanker had been directed to abandon ship.
The strikes are part of a new escalation in the conflict between the US and Iran, which has seen both sides inflict military and economic pain on each other over the past six months. The US has sought to apply economic pressure on Tehran through sanctions, but Iran has found ways to circumvent these measures by using a shadow fleet to transport its oil.
US Central Command's Adm. Brad Cooper warned that the US would 'destroy Iran's limited and exposed oil fleet' if necessary, in response to the Iranian attacks. The conflict has also led to the targeting of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for global oil shipments.