U.S. Military Strikes Three Iranian Oil Tankers Following Missile Attacks by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
The United States military struck three Iranian crude oil carriers on Saturday after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched ballistic missiles at two U.S. Navy warships. U.S. Central Command reported that a U.S. aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer successfully evaded the Iranian attacks. In response, U.S. forces permanently disabled the M/T Downy and the M/T Stark 1 near Jask, while the M/T Kylo was completely destroyed after being hit multiple times. Adm. Brad Cooper, the U.S. Central Command commander, stated that the U.S. military would impose a higher economic cost on Iran by taking out three tankers for every two ships shot at by the Iranian forces. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote that the U.S. military could strike Iran’s oil tanker fleet in the Middle East or the Indo-Pacific region, noting that Iran has no navy or air force. Iran’s foreign affairs ministry condemned the actions as illegal and aggressive. Parliament Speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf said any aggression against Iran’s interests will receive a faster and heavier response. The conflict remains centered on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil supplies.
Sources
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US military strikes three Iranian tankers in retaliation for missile attacks
CNN
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Iran targets Navy warships and US retaliates with 'higher economic cost' in new escalation phase
Fortune
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US, Iranian forces fire at vessels in waters near Iran
Reuters
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