The tanker sank in the Gulf of Oman

The tanker sank in the Gulf of Oman.

The video, published by the US military, shows the hit ship tilting and then sinking. Earlier, the Americans ordered the evacuation of the crew of the empty tanker.

American forces, in addition to the M/T Kylo, ​​also attacked and "permanently disabled" two other Iranian tankers on Saturday - the M/T Downy off the island of Khark and the M/T Stark 1 near the town of Jask on the Strait of Hormuz. All three were to be part of Iran's "shadow fleet".

“We will not hesitate to defend American forces.”

According to CENTCOM, the strikes occurred after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces fired ballistic missiles at a US aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer. The ships were to avoid being hit.

“Let the message to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps be clear: if you shoot two of our ships, there will be an even greater economic cost to you – we will destroy three of yours,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander. We will not hesitate to defend American forces and, if necessary, destroy Iran's limited and exposed oil fleet, he added.

Saturday's exchange of fire is a continuation of mutual U.S.-Iranian shelling in recent days, which resumed last weekend after a month's break. The war began at the end of February. The most intense phase of fighting ended in April, but there has been sporadic shelling since then.