U.S. forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil tankers Sept. 8 after Iran's Revolutionary Guard launched two ballistic missile attacks on a U.S. Navy warship in as many days. Both attacks failed. No American personnel were harmed, U.S. Central Command confirmed.
In response to Iran’s most recent failed attacks, CENTCOM destroyed the IRGC crude oil carriers M/T Kaviz, M/T Charminar, M/T Horizon 1, and M/T Riesco in the Gulf of Oman as well as M/T Derya near Kharg Island. American forces directed the crews to abandon ship before the vessels were struck and rendered inoperable.
Iranian state television confirmed the U.S. attacks on the tankers and broadcast a warning from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ordering crews aboard oil tankers near ports in Kuwait and Bahrain to immediately abandon their vessels, saying the ships "will be targeted" in an Iranian counter-response.
Video footage circulating on social media appears to show salvos of missiles launched from Iranian territory toward U.S. military assets in Jordan, though the clips have not been independently verified. The strikes, if confirmed, would mark a significant escalation beyond the maritime theater that has defined the conflict so far.
U.S. Central Command has not confirmed any direct hits. In a brief statement, CENTCOM said it was "aware of reports of missile activity" but declined to provide further detail, citing operational security. Defense officials told reporters that American forces in the region remained at heightened alert.
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The Sept. 5 strikes came three days earlier, when U.S. Central Command targeted three Iranian crude carriers — the M/T Downy near Kharg Island, the M/T Stark 1 near Jask, and the unladen M/T Kylo in the Gulf of Oman — disabling two and destroying one after warning crews to abandon ship.
The Pentagon framed the strikes as retaliation under a new "tanker-for-tanker" policy, following Iranian ballistic missile attacks on a U.S. aircraft carrier and destroyer, both of which evaded the strikes with no American casualties.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
