US Strikes Iranian Oil Tankers in Retaliation for Ballistic Missile Attacks
On September 5, 2026, the United States Central Command announced that American forces had struck three Iranian crude oil tankers in response to ballistic missile attacks launched by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The attacks targeted two U.S. Navy warships but were evaded, with no U.S. personnel harmed.
CENTCOM stated that the M/T Downy near Kharg Island and M/T Stark 1 near Jask were permanently disabled by American forces. Additionally, the unladen tanker M/T Kylo (also known as Noxen) was destroyed in the Gulf of Oman after its crew abandoned ship.
The vessels are part of a multibillion-dollar crude oil network that funds the IRGC and its regional proxies, according to CENTCOM. The strikes come amid renewed U.S.-Iran military exchanges and continued disruption to tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.