US forces destroy three Iranian tankers after attacks on American warships

U.S. Central Command says it struck three Iranian crude-oil carriers after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched ballistic missiles toward two U.S. Navy warships patrolling regional waters.

According to the command, an American aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer evaded multiple attacks, and no American personnel were harmed. CENTCOM said it permanently disabled the M/T Downy off Kharg Island and the M/T Stark 1 near Jask.

It said U.S. forces also completely destroyed the unladen M/T Kylo, also known as the Noxen, in the Gulf of Oman. The vessel was hit in several critical locations after its crew received orders to abandon ship, leaving it inoperable.

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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.

CENTCOM described the three tankers as part of a multibillion-dollar shadow network that finances the IRGC and its regional proxies. Adm. Brad Cooper, the command’s leader, said the action was intended to impose a higher economic cost after the attacks on U.S. ships.

“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. “We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet.”

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We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet.