US military says it destroyed 3 Iranian oil tankers

On Saturday, the US military announced it had destroyed three oil tankers linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) following an attack on American warships. According to a statement from Central Command (CENTCOM), the ships M/T Downy off the coast of Kharg Island, M/T Stark 1 near Jask, and M/T Kylo were targeted in the Gulf of Oman.

The US military stated that all three vessels were rendered inoperable after being struck by projectiles. The ships were part of a vast network used to fund the IRGC and its regional proxies. No US personnel were injured during the attacks, which were successfully averted by the destroyer and aircraft carrier. CENTCOM's commander, Admiral Brad Cooper, emphasized the economic retaliation: "If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose a higher economic cost -- taking out three of yours."

This comes as the US works to economically isolate Iran through port blockades while maintaining its threat of military action. Iran has blocked commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, threatening ships without permission to transit. Earlier this week, the two sides exchanged fire, with the US targeting the IRGC's ability to attack commercial shipping, while Iran fired on US military bases in Jordan.