US Strikes Iranian Oil Tankers Amid Worsening Conflict
The US military has struck three Iranian oil tankers in response to what it claims were missile attacks on its warships. The strikes, which targeted vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman, have been described as a warning by the American military that it will 'if necessary, destroy Iran's limited and exposed oil fleet.'
The US Navy said that two Iranian oil carriers were 'permanently disabled' after being struck by missiles, while the third tanker was destroyed. The vessels were reportedly part of a shadow network helping to fund Iran's Revolutionary Guard and its armed proxies in the region.
Iranian state television had earlier reported that four US missiles struck a tanker about 6 miles from Kharg Island, but the US military disputed this claim. One tanker was hit off Kharg Island, another near Jask, east of the Strait of Hormuz, and the third in the Gulf of Oman.
The strikes come after six months of on-again, off-again war that began with US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28. The conflict has seen both sides seeking to inflict military and economic pain, with negotiations having collapsed.