US Military Destroys Three Iranian Oil Tankers After Missile Attacks
•Iran vows more severe reprisals if attacks continue The United States military yesterday said its forces struck and disabled three Iranian crude oil tankers after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
The United States military announced that it had targeted and neutralized three Iranian crude oil tankers following missile strikes launched by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on two US Navy warships in regional waters. Iran declared it would retaliate with "more severe" attacks against US naval vessels if Washington continued its strikes on Iranian ships.
CENTCOM reported that an aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer successfully evaded several Iranian attacks, with no American personnel sustaining injuries. According to the CENTCOM statement, US forces permanently disabled the M/T Downy near Kharg Island, the M/T Stark 1 off Jask, and the unladen M/T Kylo, also known as the "Noxen," in the Gulf of Oman.
The ships were part of a "multibillion-dollar shadow network" believed to be utilized for financing the IRGC and its regional proxies. CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper emphasized that the US would defend its forces and destroy Iran's limited and vulnerable oil fleet if necessary. Regional tensions have intensified since US-Israeli strikes on Iran commenced on February 28, with Tehran responding with missile and drone strikes against Israel and US interests throughout the region.
Despite signing a memorandum of understanding on June 18 regarding freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, implementation has been delayed due to disagreements over security arrangements in the strait. Iran's military vowed to retaliate with more severe attacks on US naval vessels if the US continues its strikes on Iranian ships and maintains the naval blockade.
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