403
Sorry!!
Error! We're sorry, but the page you were looking for doesn't exist.
U.S. Sinks, Disables 3 Iran Tankers After Missile Attack on Navy
(MENAFN) American forces struck and crippled three Iranian oil tankers on Saturday, hours after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired ballistic missiles at two U.S. Navy warships operating in the region, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced.
Both targeted vessels — a U.S. aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer — evaded the incoming barrage without damage, and no American service members were hurt, the command said in a statement posted to X.
CENTCOM said its forces permanently disabled two of the tankers: the M/T Downy, hit off Kharg Island, and the M/T Stark 1, struck near Jask. A third vessel, the unladen M/T Kylo — known also as the "Noxen" — was destroyed outright in the Gulf of Oman after its crew was told to abandon ship.
Command officials described all three tankers as part of a sprawling, multibillion-dollar "shadow network" they allege bankrolls the IRGC and the armed groups it backs across the region.
CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper framed the strikes as a direct warning to Tehran: "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."
He added a pointed threat of further action: "We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran's limited and exposed oil fleet."
Iran's state broadcaster acknowledged the strikes, reporting that U.S. forces hit one tanker near Kharg Island and two more off Jask in the Sea of Oman. According to IRIB, no casualties resulted from the Kharg Island attack, where crews managed to put out an onboard fire. Of the two vessels struck near Jask, one was empty and the other laden with crude; both crews were evacuated to shore by lifeboat, the broadcaster said.
The exchange marks a sharp escalation in hostilities that have gripped the region since U.S. and Israeli forces began striking Iranian targets on Feb. 28 — a campaign that has drawn retaliatory missile and drone fire from Tehran against Israeli and American interests throughout the Middle East.
Washington and Tehran had signed a memorandum of understanding in June aimed at guaranteeing freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, but that agreement has stalled amid unresolved disputes over security arrangements in the waterway.
Both targeted vessels — a U.S. aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer — evaded the incoming barrage without damage, and no American service members were hurt, the command said in a statement posted to X.
CENTCOM said its forces permanently disabled two of the tankers: the M/T Downy, hit off Kharg Island, and the M/T Stark 1, struck near Jask. A third vessel, the unladen M/T Kylo — known also as the "Noxen" — was destroyed outright in the Gulf of Oman after its crew was told to abandon ship.
Command officials described all three tankers as part of a sprawling, multibillion-dollar "shadow network" they allege bankrolls the IRGC and the armed groups it backs across the region.
CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper framed the strikes as a direct warning to Tehran: "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."
He added a pointed threat of further action: "We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran's limited and exposed oil fleet."
Iran's state broadcaster acknowledged the strikes, reporting that U.S. forces hit one tanker near Kharg Island and two more off Jask in the Sea of Oman. According to IRIB, no casualties resulted from the Kharg Island attack, where crews managed to put out an onboard fire. Of the two vessels struck near Jask, one was empty and the other laden with crude; both crews were evacuated to shore by lifeboat, the broadcaster said.
The exchange marks a sharp escalation in hostilities that have gripped the region since U.S. and Israeli forces began striking Iranian targets on Feb. 28 — a campaign that has drawn retaliatory missile and drone fire from Tehran against Israeli and American interests throughout the Middle East.
Washington and Tehran had signed a memorandum of understanding in June aimed at guaranteeing freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, but that agreement has stalled amid unresolved disputes over security arrangements in the waterway.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any
responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos,
licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues
related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Comments
No comment