US Says Three Iranian Oil Tankers Destroyed in Escalating Conflict

The US military has announced the destruction of three Iranian-linked oil tankers in strikes carried out after Iranian forces attacked American warships.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Saturday that the vessels were connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and were targeted following what it described as failed Iranian attacks on US naval assets.

“Following Iran’s failed attacks, CENTCOM permanently disabled the IRGC crude oil carriers M/T Downy off the coast of Kharg Island and M/T Stark 1 near Jask,” CENTCOM said in a statement posted on X.

The US military said a third vessel, the M/T Kylo, was also destroyed in the Gulf of Oman.

“American forces also completely destroyed the unladen crude oil carrier M/T Kylo… in the Gulf of Oman, striking the vessel in multiple critical locations to render it inoperable after the crew was directed to abandon ship,” the statement said.

Footage released by CENTCOM showed powerful explosions, fireballs and flames engulfing the vessels after they were hit.

The command said the three tankers belonged to “a multibillion-dollar shadow network that funds the IRGC and its regional proxies.”

It added: “Iran has no means by which to defend them.”

CENTCOM also said there were no US military casualties, stating that an American destroyer and aircraft carrier had “successfully evaded multiple unprovoked Iranian attacks.”

Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, said the strikes were intended to send a direct warning to Iran’s elite military force.

“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,” Cooper said.

The latest attacks come amid escalating tensions, with Washington insisting that it is seeking to economically strangle Iran through measures that include a blockade of its ports, while continuing to keep the option of military action on the table.

Iran has responded by restricting commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route, by threatening vessels that attempt to pass through without Tehran’s permission.

The latest confrontation follows exchanges of fire between the two sides earlier in the week. The US said it was targeting the IRGC’s capability to attack commercial shipping, while Iran launched strikes against US military bases in nearby Jordan.

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