US targets three Iranian tankers after missile attacks

U.S. forces targeted three Iranian crude oil tankers following missile attacks from Iran, escalating tension in the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM reported that an aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer avoided Iranian attacks while patrolling the region. No U.S. personnel were injured. The military permanently disabled two tankers near Kharg Island and Jask, while the third tanker was destroyed in the Gulf of Oman.

CENTCOM described the vessels as part of an oil network financing the Revolutionary Guard, providing video of the strikes without disclosing specific weapons or damage. Admiral Brad Cooper stated the U.S. would respond economically to any further attacks on its ships. Iranian state media claimed four U.S. missiles hit a tanker near Kharg Island, but no casualties were reported.

The strikes followed a period of relative calm after a month, with U.S. forces resuming attacks around the Strait of Hormuz and Iran tightening control over the waterway. The Strait of Hormuz, crucial for global oil supply, has seen reduced commercial traffic since the U.S. imposed a naval blockade on Iranian oil exports. The ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran began on February 28, with a history of alternating military exchanges and lulls.