WASHINGTON — US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Saturday that American forces struck and disabled three Iranian crude oil tankers after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched ballistic missiles toward two US Navy warships in regional waters.CENTCOM said an aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer successfully evaded multiple Iranian attacks, with no US personnel injured.According to the statement, US forces permanently disabled the M/T Downy off Iran’s Kharg Island and the M/T Stark 1 near Jask.US forces also destroyed the unladen M/T Kylo, also known as the Noxen, in the Gulf of Oman after ordering its crew to abandon the vessel.CENTCOM alleged that the tankers were part of a “multibillion-dollar shadow network” used to finance the IRGC and its regional proxies.“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,” CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said.“We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet,” he added.The incident marks a further escalation in regional hostilities that began with US-Israeli attacks on Iran on Feb. 28. Tehran has responded with missile and drone attacks against Israel and Gulf countries. Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 18 concerning freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, but implementation has stalled amid disagreements over security arrangements in the strategic waterway.
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