US Military Disables Three Iran-Linked Oil Tankers After Missile Attacks on Warships
Quick Look
- US Central Command announced it permanently disabled two Iran-linked oil tankers near Kharg Island and the Strait of Hormuz and destroyed a third in the Gulf of Oman after ballistic missiles were launched toward two US warships.
- No American troops were harmed.
- The strikes target a multibillion-dollar shadow network funding the IRGC and its proxies.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The strikes follow renewed attacks between the US and Iran after a period of relative calm, with Centcom stating the tankers were part of a multibillion-dollar shadow network funding the IRGC and its regional proxies.
The US military says it has hit three Iran-linked oil tankers after ballistic missiles were launched towards two of its warships in the region.
US Central Command (Centcom) said on Saturday it had "permanently disabled" a tanker near Kharg Island and another near the Strait of Hormuz, and "completely destroyed" a third in the Gulf of Oman.
Centcom said it "successfully evaded" multiple attacks from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeting a US aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyer. No American troops were harmed, it said in a statement.
Iranian state media earlier reported that one of its tankers had been struck off the coast of Kharg Island.
Tehran did not immediately acknowledge attacks on US ships.
Admiral Brad Cooper, Centcom's commander, said in a statement on Saturday: "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."
"We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran's limited and exposed oil fleet."
Centcom, which oversees US military operations in the Middle East, claimed that the three Iranian oil tankers were "part of a multibillion-dollar shadow network that funds the IRGC and its regional proxies".
The strikes come nearly a week after renewed attacks between the US and Iran, which followed a period of relative calm between the warring sides.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Iran will retaliate against US interests in the region
Likely · Within days
Global oil prices may increase due to supply concerns
Possible · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What specific damage was inflicted on the US warships targeted by the ballistic missiles?
- Will Iran retaliate militarily or economically in response to the tanker strikes?
- How will the destruction of the oil tankers affect global oil markets and shipping routes?
