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US strikes three Iranian-linked oil tankers after warships allegedly targeted

From BBC News · () English

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

At a glance

News Official statement Ongoing story
  • US Central Command says it struck three Iran-linked oil tankers after ballistic missiles targeted a US aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer.
  • The command said no US troops were harmed and described the tankers as part of a network funding Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and regional proxies.
  • The strikes followed the expiry of a 60-day ceasefire and came amid an escalating conflict that has disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and pushed up global energy prices.

The United States says it has struck three Iran-linked oil tankers after ballistic missiles were launched toward two American warships in the region, sharply escalating the confrontation between Washington and Tehran.

US Central Command said on Saturday that it had “permanently disabled” one tanker near Kharg Island and another near the Strait of Hormuz. It said a third tanker in the Gulf of Oman was “completely destroyed.” Centcom also said its forces “successfully evaded” several attacks by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps against a US aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer. No American troops were harmed, it said.

Iranian state media earlier reported that one of the country’s tankers had been hit off Kharg Island. Tehran had not immediately acknowledged attacks on US ships. Centcom said the three tankers formed part of a multibillion-dollar “shadow network” that funds the IRGC and its regional proxies.

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.

· Admiral Brad CooperThe Centcom commander described the strikes as a response to alleged attacks on two US warships.

Admiral Brad Cooper, Centcom’s commander, delivered a blunt warning: “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.” He added, “We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet.”

The strikes came nearly a week after renewed US-Iran attacks, following a period of relative calm. A 60-day ceasefire formally expired last month, with no clear diplomatic settlement in sight. The wider conflict has also brought political pressure on President Donald Trump over the cost of the war to American consumers ahead of November’s US midterm elections. Fighting around the Strait of Hormuz has raised energy prices worldwide.

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

· Admiral Brad CooperCooper warned that the United States would continue defending its forces against Iranian attacks.
About this summary

Originally published by BBC News in English. 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.

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