U.S. Strikes Three Iranian Oil Tankers Near Iran

U.S. Strikes Three Iranian Oil Tankers Near Iran

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed Saturday that U.S. forces struck three Iranian crude oil tankers after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched ballistic missiles toward two U.S. Navy warships in regional waters.

The M/T Downy was permanently disabled off Kharg Island, approximately 6 nautical miles from Iran’s key oil export hub. Iranian media reported that the tanker was hit by four U.S. missiles and that its crew evacuated safely.

CENTCOM said the M/T Stark 1 was also permanently disabled near Jask, while the unladen M/T Kylo, also known as Noxen, was destroyed in the Gulf of Oman after its crew was ordered to abandon ship.

No U.S. personnel were injured, and Iranian reports said there were no casualties among the tanker crews.

The strikes mark another major escalation in the U.S.-Iran confrontation, directly targeting vessels linked by Washington to Iran’s oil network and the IRGC.