US says it hit three Iranian oil tankers after attacks on warships

The U.S. military launched strikes against three Iranian oil tankers on Saturday after Navy ships were targeted with missiles, warning it would "if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet." The strikes followed President Donald Trump's earlier comments attempting to downplay the conflict as "small potatoes," marking a shift back towards military action after six months of intermittent war.

Both Iran and the U.S. have sought to inflict economic and military damage, albeit without reaching a negotiated resolution. The U.S. military reported that a U.S. aircraft carrier and a destroyer successfully avoided multiple "unprovoked Iranian attacks" while patrolling in the region, resulting in no American casualties. Two Iranian oil carriers were "permanently disabled" and one unladen tanker was destroyed.

Iranian state television reported that four U.S. missiles struck a tanker near Kharg Island, home to a terminal where Iran exports much of its oil. Kharg Island has been a frequent target of U.S. military operations. The U.S. confirmed that one tanker was struck off Kharg Island and another near Jask, east of the Strait of Hormuz, with the unladen tanker targeted in the Gulf of Oman.

The strikes were shared via video footage, with U.S. Central Command Admiral Brad Cooper stating that they would "not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran's limited and exposed oil fleet." The strikes came after a week of renewed hostilities following a month of relative calm, with the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding areas once again becoming targets.

At least five people were killed during a U.S. bombardment of southern Iran earlier in the week, including a strike on a wedding. The resumption of conflict followed new U.S. efforts to impose economic pressure on Iran, with hard-line new leaders signaling a willingness to continue fighting after decades of sanctions.