SRINAGAR: US forces struck and disabled three Iranian crude oil tankers after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired ballistic missiles towards two US Navy warships in regional waters, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Saturday.
CENTCOM said an aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer evaded multiple Iranian attacks and that no US personnel were injured.
The US military said its forces permanently disabled the M/T Downy off the coast of Kharg Island and the M/T Stark 1 near Jask. A third vessel, the unladen M/T Kylo, also known as the “Noxen”, was destroyed in the Gulf of Oman after its crew was ordered to abandon the ship.
According to CENTCOM, the three vessels were linked to what it described as a “multibillion-dollar shadow network” allegedly used to generate funds for the IRGC and its regional proxies.
CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper said the strikes were intended to demonstrate that attacks on US forces would carry a greater economic cost.
“If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost — taking out three of yours,” Cooper said.
He added that US forces would continue to defend American personnel and, if required, destroy Iran’s “limited and exposed oil fleet”.
The latest strikes come amid heightened tensions in the region following US and Israeli attacks on Iran that began on February 28. Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and US interests in several parts of the region.
The United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 18 concerning freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. However, implementation of the agreement has remained stalled amid disagreements over security arrangements in the strategically important waterway.
