US Strikes Three Iranian Oil Tankers Near Kharg Island
The US has launched a military strike against three Iranian oil tankers near Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf. The attack comes after CENTCOM said that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched ballistic missiles towards two US Navy warships in the region.
According to CENTCOM, one of the oil tankers was permanently disabled off the coast of Kharg Island and another near Jask. A third tanker was attacked in the Gulf of Oman.
The strike is a response to the IRGC's attack on US ships, which CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper described as 'taking out two of our ships.' Cooper warned that if Iran shoots at US ships, 'we will destroy their oil tankers.'
Iran is the third-largest producer in OPEC and exports 90% of its crude via Kharg Island. The conflict between Iran and the US has disrupted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global oil supply.