14:37

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces struck three Iranian crude oil tankers on September 5 after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched ballistic missiles at two U.S. Navy warships operating in regional waters.

Axar.az reports that CENTCOM said on X that a U.S. aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer successfully evaded multiple Iranian attacks, with no American personnel injured.

Following the attacks, U.S. forces “permanently disabled” the M/T Downy off the coast of Kharg Island and the M/T Stark 1 near Jask. CENTCOM also said U.S. forces destroyed the unladen M/T Kylo, also known as the Noxen, in the Gulf of Oman after its crew was ordered to abandon the vessel.

According to CENTCOM, the three tankers were part of a multibillion-dollar “shadow network” allegedly used to fund 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,” CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said.

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