US Strikes Second Iranian Vessel Near Kharg Island
US forces have struck an Iranian vessel near Kharg Island for the second time in recent days, according to Iranian media. The first tanker was hit in the anchorage area on Tuesday with no reported casualties and efforts underway to evacuate the crew.
The US military had previously targeted three Iranian oil tankers after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired ballistic missiles toward two US Navy warships, CENTCOM said. The US disabled the M/T Downy off Kharg Island and the M/T Stark 1 near Jask and destroyed the unladen M/T Kylo in the Gulf of Oman.
The IRGC has warned crews aboard oil tankers to leave their ships immediately, citing vulnerability to attack after the US strikes on Iranian tankers. The Iranian military also said its air defenses had shot down an American MQ-1 drone over Bandar Abbas.