U.S. forces attack Iranian oil tankers in retaliation for attacks

The United States says it struck three Iranian oil tankers after Iranian forces attacked two U.S. naval vessels. U.S. Central Command said an American aircraft carrier and missile destroyer evaded several “unprovoked Iranian attacks” and that no U.S. service members were injured.

CENTCOM said its forces permanently disabled two tankers and completely destroyed a third. It described the vessels as part of a secret multibillion-dollar network that finances Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its regional proxies. CENTCOM also said Iran had no means to defend the tankers.

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The U.S. aircraft carrier and missile destroyer successfully evaded several unprovoked Iranian attacks. No American service members were injured.

“Let the message to the IRGC be clear: if you fire on two of our ships, you will suffer even greater economic consequences, and we will destroy three of yours,” CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said in the statement.

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These three Iranian crude oil tankers belong to a secret multibillion-dollar network that finances Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and its regional proxies. Iran has no means to defend them.

In a later update, CENTCOM said one of the tankers sank because of the “precision and professionalism” of U.S. forces. It identified the vessel as the Kylo and said it carried no oil. Video released by the U.S. military showed the damaged ship listing before sinking.

The U.S. statements followed reports in Iranian media of explosions near Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf, a strategically important center for Iran’s oil exports. Tasnim reported that four U.S. missiles hit an Iranian oil tanker about 11 kilometers from the island’s coast. It said there were no casualties and that the crew was being evacuated. ISNA reported that a small vessel had been hit. More than 90% of Iran’s crude oil is believed to transit the island’s infrastructure, the article said.

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Let the message to the IRGC be clear: if you fire on two of our ships, you will suffer even greater economic consequences, and we will destroy three of yours.