• US military strikes Iranian oil tankers after missile launches aimed at Navy vessels.
• Three tankers were targeted: one destroyed and two permanently disabled.
• Tensions escalate as Iran threatens retaliatory strikes against US ships.

The US military announced it has struck three Iranian oil tankers following a series of missile attacks launched by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) towards two US Navy warships stationed in the region. According to Central Command (Centcom), the strikes occurred as the warships successfully evaded multiple attacks, with no US personnel injured during the incident, as detailed in reports from BBC and India Times.

Among the tankers involved, the M/T Kylo was completely destroyed in the Gulf of Oman, while the M/T Downy and M/T Stark 1 were reported to be permanently disabled near Kharg Island and Jask, respectively. Admiral Brad Cooper stated, “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,” emphasizing the economic implications for Iran, as mentioned in reports by South China Morning Post and Channel News Asia.

Centcom has indicated that the targeted vessels are part of a broader network believed to finance the IRGC and its regional proxies, indicating the strikes were intended as a significant blow to Iran's economic resources. The US military also issued a video of the strikes, showcasing the destruction of the M/T Kylo, with Centcom emphasizing the precision of the operation in their public communications, according to details from Al Jazeera and Los Angeles Times.

In response to the US strikes, Iranian authorities have condemned the actions, describing them as violations of international law and a war crime under UN statutes. The IRGC has threatened intensified retaliation against US assets in the region, raising the stakes in an already volatile conflict that has persisted since the resumption of hostilities following a month-long lull, as reported by India Times and Los Angeles Times.