US Strikes Three Iranian Tankers in Retaliation for Missile Attacks

The US military has struck three Iranian tankers in retaliation for missile attacks on two US Navy warships. The US Central Command said that the Iranian crude oil carriers M/T Downy and M/T Stark 1 were permanently disabled, while an unladen tanker called the M/T Kylo was completely destroyed.

According to Adm. Brad Cooper, the CENTCOM commander, 'Let the message to the IRGC be clear: If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost, taking out three of yours.'

The US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on X that 'It's simple: if Iran shoots at U.S. ships, we will destroy (and sink) their oil tankers. All they have to do is stop shooting at @USNavy.'