Washington, September 05 (QNA) - The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that its forces attacked three Iranian crude oil tankers today, after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched ballistic missiles toward two US Navy warships that were patrolling territorial waters.
In a post on the social media platform X, CENTCOM said: "A US aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer successfully evaded multiple unjustified Iranian attacks. No US personnel were injured."
It added that, "Following the failed Iranian attacks, US Central Command permanently disabled two IRGC-linked crude oil tankers, the M/T Downy off the coast of Kharg Island and the M/T Stark 1 near Jask. US forces also completely destroyed the empty crude oil tanker M/T Kylo, also known as Noxen, in the Gulf of Oman. The vessel was struck at several vital points to render it inoperable after its crew had been instructed to abandon ship."
The statement said the three tankers were part of a clandestine, multibillion-dollar network that "funds the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its regional proxies," adding that Iran had no means of defending the vessels.
CENTCOM commander, Rear Admiral Brad Cooper said: "Let the message to the IRGC be clear: If you fire on two of our ships, we will impose a far greater economic cost on you by destroying three of your ships."
He added: "We will not hesitate to defend US forces and, if necessary, destroy Iran's limited and exposed oil fleet." (QNA)