1 hr ago
US Strikes Three Iranian Tankers After Naval Attacks
The United States says Iranian forces attacked two American Navy ships with missiles.
The United States says its ships avoided the attacks and no American personnel were injured.
Afterward, US forces struck three Iranian oil tankers.
Two tankers were reportedly damaged so they could no longer operate.
A third tanker was empty, and its crew was told to leave before the ship was destroyed.
The United States says the tankers helped fund Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and allied armed groups.
Iran says the United States attacked an Iranian tanker near Kharg Island.
The conflicting claims have increased concerns about ships and oil shipments in the region.
The US military said it struck three Iranian oil tankers after Iranian attacks targeted US Navy vessels.
CENTCOM said M/T Downy and M/T Stark 1 were permanently disabled near Kharg Island and Jask.
US forces destroyed the unladen tanker M/T Kylo in the Gulf of Oman after its crew was told to leave.
Washington said the tankers belonged to a shadow network financing Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and regional proxies.
Iran accused the United States of attacking an Iranian tanker near Kharg Island, offering a conflicting account.
- Who
- The United States military and Iran, including forces associated by Washington with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
- What
- The United States said it disabled two Iranian oil tankers and destroyed a third after reported attacks on US Navy vessels.
- Where
- Near Kharg Island and Jask off Iran’s coast, and in the Gulf of Oman.
- When
- On Saturday, nearly a week after the United States and Iran resumed attacks following a month of relative calm.
- Why
- The United States linked the strikes to attacks on its naval assets and said the tankers helped finance Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and regional proxies; Iran disputed the US account.
United States’ account
Iran’s account
Reason for the strikes
United States’ account
The US military said its aircraft carrier and destroyer evaded multiple Iranian missile attacks, prompting strikes on tankers linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
Iran’s account
Iran accused Washington of attacking an Iranian tanker near Kharg Island and did not accept the US characterization presented in the reports.
Nature of the tankers
United States’ account
The United States described the vessels as part of a shadow network that helped finance Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and armed regional proxies.
Iran’s account
Iran’s reported position characterized the action as an attack on an Iranian tanker, without endorsing the US claim about the vessels’ financial role.
Broader confrontation
United States’ account
Washington linked the tanker operation to attacks on US naval assets during the renewed US-Iran conflict.
Iran’s account
Iran’s accusation presents the United States as the party escalating attacks against Iranian shipping.
Key facts
- US-reported targets
- M/T Downy, M/T Stark 1, and M/T Kylo.
- Reported outcomes
- M/T Downy and M/T Stark 1 were described as permanently disabled, while M/T Kylo was destroyed.
- M/T Kylo
- The tanker was unladen, and its crew was directed to abandon it before the strike.
- US casualties
- The US military reported no American personnel were injured.
- US explanation
- Washington said the tankers were part of a shadow network supporting Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and armed proxies.
- Iranian response
- Iran accused the United States of attacking an Iranian tanker near Kharg Island.
- Regional significance
- The strikes occurred near the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, important waterways for oil shipments.
Quotes
US military
The US military, which issued the statement describing the strikes and warning against Iran’s oil fleet
“Following Iran’s failed attacks, CENTCOM permanently disabled the IRGC crude oil carriers M/T Downy off the coast of Kharg Island and M/T Stark 1 near Jask”
businesstoday.in
“American forces also completely destroyed the unladen crude oil carrier M/T Kylo... in the Gulf of Oman”
businesstoday.in
Sources
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