US Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced that US forces attacked and disabled three Iranian crude oil tankers after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired ballistic missiles targeting two US Navy warships in regional waters. This was reported by Anadolu.
In a statement released on the social media platform X on Saturday, CENTCOM reported that an aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer successfully evaded multiple attacks by Iran. No US service members were injured in the incidents.
The statement detailed that US forces permanently disabled the M/T Downey off the coast of Kharg Island and the M/T Stark 1 near Jask. Additionally, after ordering the crews to abandon ship, they destroyed the empty M/T Kylo—also known as the ‘Noxen’—in the Gulf of Oman.
CENTCOM stated that these vessels were part of a “multi-billion dollar shadow network” allegedly used to finance the IRGC and its regional allies.
CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper said, “The message to the IRGC should be clear: if you attack two of our ships, we will destroy three of yours and impose a greater economic cost.”
He added, “We will not hesitate to defend US forces and, if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and vulnerable oil tanker fleet.”
Regional tensions have escalated since the onset of US and Israeli attacks involving Iran on February 28. In response, Tehran has launched missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and US-linked facilities across the region.
On June 18, the US and Iran signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. However, implementation has stalled due to disagreements over security measures in the strait.
