US Army Announces Airstrikes on Three Iranian Tankers, Threatens to Destroy Its "Limited and Exposed" Oil Fleet

The U.S. military announced that its forces struck three Iranian oil tankers, stating that the action came “after the Iranian Revolutionary Guard fired ballistic missiles at two U.S. Navy warships conducting patrols in territorial waters.” In a statement posted on its official X account, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said: “A U.S. aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer successfully evaded multiple unjustified Iranian attacks, with no U.S. personnel casualties.” It added: “Following the failed Iranian attacks, U.S. Central Command disabled two crude oil tankers belonging to the Revolutionary Guard off the coast of Kharg Island and near Jask. Our forces also completely destroyed the empty crude oil tanker M/T Kylo (also known as Noxen) in the Gulf of Oman, targeting several critical areas to render the vessel inoperable, after directing the crew to abandon ship.” CENTCOM clarified: “The three Iranian crude oil tankers are part of a secret network worth billions of dollars that finances the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Iran’s proxies in the region,” noting that Tehran has no means to defend these tankers. In the same statement, Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, said: “The message to the Revolutionary Guard is clear: if you fire on two of our ships, we will impose a much higher economic cost by destroying three of yours.” He added: “We will not hesitate to defend U.S. forces, and we will destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet if necessary.”