The United States military said it destroyed three Iranian oil tankers on Saturday after alleged attempted missile attacks on US naval vessels, escalating the latest confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
The strikes came as the six-month conflict remains deadlocked, with Iran maintaining its grip on the Strait of Hormuz while the US continues efforts to enforce a counter-blockade around Iranian ports.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the targeted vessels were linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which it accused of launching unsuccessful attacks against American warships.
“Following Iran’s failed attacks, CENTCOM permanently disabled the IRGC crude oil carriers M/T Downy off the coast of Kharg Island and M/T Stark 1 near Jask,” it said in a statement.
The command said another vessel, the unladen crude oil carrier M/T Kylo, was also destroyed in the Gulf of Oman after American forces struck it several times.
“American forces also completely destroyed the unladen crude oil carrier M/T Kylo… in the Gulf of Oman, striking the vessel in multiple critical locations to render it inoperable after the crew was directed to abandon ship.”
Footage released by CENTCOM showed large fireballs and thick flames rising from the vessels after they were struck by projectiles.
According to the US military, the three tankers belonged to “part of a multibillion-dollar shadow network that funds the IRGC and its regional proxies”.
The latest military action came alongside Washington’s broader economic…
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