US forces hit three Iranian oil tankers after missile attacks

Sun Sep 06 2026 07:42:28 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The US military reports disabling three Iranian-linked tankers following ballistic missiles launched at US warships.

US Central Command said it permanently disabled an Iranian-linked tanker near Kharg Island and another close to the Strait of Hormuz, while completely destroying a third in the Gulf of Oman. The strikes followed ballistic missiles launched by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) aimed at a U.S. aircraft carrier and a guided‑missile destroyer, yet no American personnel were harmed. Centcom commander Admiral Brad Cooper warned the IRGC that any aggression against U.S. vessels would be met with a higher economic cost by targeting Iranian oil assets. This operation marks a renewed escalation after earlier joint US‑Israel strikes in February.

US forces hit three Iranian oil tankers after missile attacks

The United States Central Command said it had permanently disabled an Iranian-linked tanker near Kharg Island and another close to the Strait of Hormuz, and completely destroyed a third in the Gulf of Oman following ballistic missiles launched towards US warships.

The strikes came after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a series of attacks on a U.S. aircraft carrier and a guided‑missile destroyer; the US forces reported no casualties.

Centcom commander Admiral Brad Cooper warned the IRGC that any aggression against U.S. vessels would be met with “an even higher economic cost” by targeting the Iranian oil fleet.

This operation follows a brief lull in tensions that ended with joint US‑Israel strikes against Iran on 28 February, prompting Iran to respond with attacks on Israeli, US, and allied Gulf states.