US Strikes Iranian Oil Tankers as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Escalate

The United States struck three Iranian oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched ballistic missile attacks on U.S. Navy ships.

According to Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of the U.S. Central Command, '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 incident marks a renewed escalation in tensions between the two nations after a month of relative calm.

The U.S. said it 'permanently disabled' two Iran-linked oil tankers and 'completely destroyed' a third, while Iran's state media confirmed the strikes and said Tehran attacked three U.S.-affiliated vessels in response.