US military claims it struck three Iranian oil tankers in Persian Gulf waters

The United States military says its forces struck three Iranian crude oil tankers in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, as tensions remain high between Tehran and Washington.

In a statement released on Saturday, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said two crude oil carriers that it linked to the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), identified as M/T Downy and M/T Stark 1, were struck off the coast of Kharg Island and near the southeastern port of Jask.

It added that the vessels were rendered inoperable.

CENTCOM added that a third vessel, the unladen crude oil carrier M/T Kylo, also known as Noxen, was hit in the Gulf of Oman after its crew was instructed to abandon ship. According to the US military, the tanker was struck at multiple locations to prevent it from returning to service.

The US military alleged that the three vessels were part of a “multibillion-dollar shadow network” used to generate revenue for the IRGC and its allies operating in the region.

CENTCOM also said a US aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer had come under Iranian attacks. 

US forces strike Iranian oil tanker near Kharg Island, escalating aggression against Iran

The US has targeted an Iranian vessel in the Persian Gulf with four projectiles, further escalating aggression against Iran.

Earlier on Saturday, Iranian media reported that a tanker near Kharg Island had come under attack by US forces.

A local source said the Iranian tanker was struck by four projectiles about six nautical miles from the island.

The attack caused no casualties, while the tanker’s crew was evacuated from the vessel.

The latest developments came days after Iran and the United States exchanged attacks earlier this week, marking the first direct military confrontation between the two sides in more than a month.

Audio reviewed by CNN reportedly captured a US military aircraft warning the ship via an emergency channel before the strike. According to the report, the aircraft instructed the crew of Motor Tanker STARK 1 to abandon the vessel within 10 minutes. A person believed to be aboard the tanker was later heard appealing for the firing to stop, saying the ship had already been destroyed.

Marine traffic data cited by media reports showed that the Stark 1 tanker, built in 2000, has a carrying capacity of 159,681 tonnes and was last tracked near Kharg Island about a week earlier.

On Monday, US armed forces attacked Iran’s Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, martyring three people.

On Tuesday, US missile strikes hit three locations near Ahvaz and Aghajari in Khuzestan Province, martyring seven people and wounding eight others, according to Khuzestan provincial officials.

On the same day, US forces struck a residential building in Kuhestak in Hormozgan Province while a wedding reception was taking place, martyring at least five people and wounding 68 others, including women and children.

In response to the attacks, Iran’s Armed Forces launched a series of retaliatory missile and drone strikes against US military positions in Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain.

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