The United States has obliterated three Iranian oil carriers after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched ballistic missiles at American warships.
Central Command said two US Navy warships were patrolling regional waters when they were targeted by Iran on Saturday.
An aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyer successfully evaded multiple unprovoked Iranian attacks, and no American personnel were harmed.
Iran’s two crude oil carriers, one off the island of Kharg and the other near Jask, were ‘permanently disabled’ by the American retaliatory strikes.
American forces also completely destroyed the unladen crude oil carrier M/T Kylo in the Gulf of Oman, hitting the vessel until the crew was directed to abandon ship, according to CENTCOM.
‘Let the message to the IRGC be clear: If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost —taking out three of yours,’ said Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander.
‘We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet.’
Central Command said two US Navy warships were patrolling regional waters when they were targeted by Iran. Pictured: An Iranian tanker being blown up
The US said that the attack on the tankers came after ballistic missiles were fired unsuccessfully on American warships
A massive fire breaks out on an Iranian tanker after being struck by the US
The strikes – a day after Donald Trump sought to minimize the conflict as ‘small potatoes’ – keep up a new tilt back toward fighting after six months of on-again, off-again war that began on February 28.
Both sides have sought to inflict both military and economic pain, and negotiations have collapsed.
Earlier, Iranian state TV had said four US missiles struck a tanker about six miles from Kharg Island, home to a terminal through which the country exports most of its oil.
Kharg Island has been repeatedly targeted during the war.
The strikes came nearly a week after the US and Iran resumed attacks following a month of relative calm, with the strait and Iranian communities along it again being targeted.
The resumption of fighting came after Trump’s new efforts to apply economic pressures on Tehran.
Meanwhile, the US military has been helping to guide ships through the strait as Tehran asserts control and targets some vessels, but overall traffic remains low.
This is a breaking news story.
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