US Strikes Iranian Oil Carrier Off Kharg Island
The island serves as a critical hub for Iranian oil shipments throughout the region.
The United States struck three Iranian oil tankers near Kharg Island on Saturday, confirming U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). One vessel was permanently disabled off the coast of Kharg, another was completely destroyed near Jask, and the final one was rendered inoperable in the Gulf of Oman. These actions followed Iran's launch of ballistic missiles toward two U.S. Navy warships in the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM stated that the U.S. vessels avoided the attacks, with no injuries to American personnel. The strikes were in response to Iran's aggression, as confirmed by the initial report from Iranian state-linked media. The oil tankers targeted are part of Iran's "shadow fleet," which aids in funding the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its regional proxies.
CENTCOM emphasized that if Iran continues its aggression, there will be an "even higher economic cost" imposed, targeting Iran's oil fleet. This escalation comes amid a shift in U.S. strategy toward economic pressure rather than military action, as part of a new sanctions strategy aimed at isolating Iran economically.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
