US Strikes Iranian Oil Tankers Amid Escalating Gulf Tensions

The US military struck three Iranian oil tankers in response to an attack by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on two US Navy ships. According to CENTCOM, the US aircraft carriers and a destroyer dodged the IRGC missiles with no casualties.

CENTCOM said that the M/T Downy was hit near Kharg Island and the M/T Stark 1 was struck near Jask, while the third tanker in the Gulf of Oman was rendered inoperable and 'completely destroyed,' and the Iranian crew was warned it should abandon ship before the strike.

Adm. Brad Cooper, the CENTCOM commander, framed the action as retaliation and said, 'If you shoot at our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost, take out three of yours.'

The IRGC claimed to have targeted three oil tankers and three US-affiliated vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, warning other vessels against attempting routes Tehran had not authorised.