U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Saturday that it had struck three Iranian‑linked oil tankers after ballistic missiles were launched toward two of its warships in the Gulf of Oman.
CENTCOM said the U.S. forces permanently disabled a tanker near Kharg Island, another near the Strait of Hormuz, and completely destroyed a third in the Gulf of Oman.
Following the strikes, CENTCOM reported it successfully evaded multiple attacks from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that targeted a U.S. aircraft carrier and guided‑missile destroyer, with no American personnel harmed.
Iranian state media earlier confirmed that one of its tankers had been struck off the coast of Kharg Island by U.S. missiles.
CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper stated that were the IRGC to launch further attacks on U.S. assets, the U.S. would be prepared to impose higher economic costs, “taking out three of your assets,” and that it would not hesitate to destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet if necessary.
These actions come less than a week after renewed fighting between U.S. forces and Iran, following a period of relative calm. Earlier in February, U.S. and Israeli teams carried out widespread strikes against Iranian positions, prompting Iran to retaliate by targeting U.S. bases, allied states in the Gulf, and essentially closing the Strait of Hormuz to marine traffic.
