US forces permanently disabled three Iranian oil tankers on Saturday in response to attempted attacks by Iran on two US Navy ships in the region.
The “multiple unprovoked Iranian attacks” were successfully evaded with no American military personnel being harmed.
This comes after President Trump reportedly approved a new “tanker for tanker” policy earlier this week, with the US launching strikes on tankers on Tuesday following Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Let the message to the IRGC be clear: If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost —taking out three of yours,” CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper added in a statement on Saturday.
CENTCOM announced the strikes and permanent disability of tankers M/T Downy and M/T Stark 1. A third, M/T Kylo, was “completely destroyed,” CENTCOM said in a statement with accompanying footage of the strikes.
WATCH:
US Central Command said in a statement,
TAMPA, Fla. — U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces struck three Iranian crude oil carriers, Sept. 5, after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched ballistic missiles toward two U.S. Navy warships patrolling regional waters.
A U.S. aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyer successfully evaded multiple unprovoked Iranian attacks. No American personnel were harmed.
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. American forces also completely destroyed the unladen crude oil carrier M/T Kylo (also known as the “Noxen”) in the Gulf of Oman, striking the vessel in multiple critical locations to render it inoperable after the crew was directed to abandon ship.
The three Iranian crude oil tankers are part of a multibillion-dollar shadow network that funds the IRGC and its regional proxies. Iran has no means by which to defend them.
“Let the message to the IRGC be clear: If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost —taking out three of yours,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander. “We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet.”
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