DistantNews
Support us
🇩🇪 Germany /Conflict & Security

Iran war: US military says attacked Iranian oil tanker has sunk

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire Official statement Ongoing story
  • US Central Command said the tanker M/T Kylo sank in the Gulf of Oman after US forces struck it at several key points and ordered its crew to leave.
  • The United States said its attacks on three Iranian tankers responded to Iranian missile attacks on a US aircraft carrier and destroyer, while Iranian media presented the attacks as forcing the ships to flee.
  • The strikes come amid a US naval blockade that has sharply limited Iran’s oil exports and Iranian attacks and threats disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

An Iranian oil tanker attacked by the US military has sunk in the Gulf of Oman, according to US Central Command. Centcom said the sinking of the M/T Kylo resulted from the “precision and professionalism” of American soldiers. The tanker was not carrying oil.

Video released by the US military appeared to show the damaged vessel listing before it went under. The military had said on Saturday that it attacked three Iranian oil tankers, striking the Kylo at “several decisive points” to render it unusable. The crew had been ordered to abandon the ship, according to the US account. The claims could not initially be independently verified.

precision and professionalism

· US Central CommandCentcom used the phrase while claiming responsibility for the sinking of the M/T Kylo.

Washington said the attacks were retaliation for “several” Iranian attacks on US warships in the region. Centcom said Iran’s Revolutionary Guards fired ballistic missiles at a US aircraft carrier and a destroyer. The ships reportedly evaded the missiles, and no one was injured.

several decisive points

· US Central CommandThe command described where the M/T Kylo was hit to make it unusable.

Iranian media, citing the Revolutionary Guards, also reported attacks on the US warships, but described the outcome differently. The ships had been forced to flee, according to the account in Tehran. Tasnim news agency said Centcom’s acknowledgment of the attacks demonstrated the Revolutionary Guards’ offensive strength and the failure of the American aggressors. Iran’s claims about the consequences also could not initially be independently verified.

The US military said one of the other targeted tankers was near Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf, a key point for Iran’s oil exports. The third was in the Gulf of Oman. Both were reportedly rendered permanently unusable. More than 90% of Iran’s oil exports are reported to pass through Kharg, normally providing Tehran’s government with its main source of revenue. A US naval blockade has now sharply restricted those exports, while Iranian attacks and threats have largely blocked shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for oil, liquefied gas, and fertilizer exports from the Persian Gulf states.

several

· US Central CommandCentcom used the word when describing the Iranian attacks that it said prompted the US strikes.
About this summary

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog