US Strikes Three Iranian Oil Tankers Amid Escalating Conflict

The US military has struck three Iranian oil tankers in response to an attack by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on two US Navy warships. The strikes were carried out after the IRGC launched ballistic missiles at the US vessels, with no US personnel injured.

Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, said that the message to the IRGC is clear: 'If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost, taking out three of yours.'

The attacked tankers were part of a shadow network helping to fund Iran's IRGC. One tanker was off the coast of Kharg Island, near Iran's key oil export hub.