US Strikes Iranian Oil Tankers in Retaliation for Missile Attacks on Navy Ships

The US military has launched retaliatory strikes against three Iranian oil tankers in response to missile attacks on Navy ships. The attack, which took place on Saturday, targeted vessels near Kharg Island and the Gulf of Oman.

According to CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper, the US will impose an even higher economic cost if Iran shoots at American ships. 'Let the message to the IRGC be clear: If you shoot at two of our ships, we will take out three of yours,' he said in a statement.

The Iranian oil tankers were part of a 'multibillion-dollar shadow network' that funds the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and its regional proxies. The US has previously seized Iranian vessels operating under similar networks, including two in April.

Iran's foreign ministry condemned the US strikes, calling them a 'clear violation of Paragraph 4 of Article 2 of the United Nations Charter.' Lt. Col. Ebrahim Zolfaghari warned that Iranian forces would target American military in the region 'more severely than before' if the US continues strikes against ships.