The US military attacked three Iranian oil tankers in the Persian Gulf in retaliation for earlier attacks on two US warships by Iran.
On Saturday, 5 Sep 2026 GMT+7, the US military revealed it struck three Iranian crude oil tankers after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired missiles at two US Navy warships.
“US aircraft carriers and missile-guided destroyers successfully evaded multiple unprovoked Iranian attacks,” a statement from US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.
CENTCOM added that following Iran’s failed attacks, the US military permanently damaged the IRGC’s crude oil tanker M/T Downy off Kharg Island and the M/T Stark 1 near the city of Jask.
“US forces also completely destroyed the empty crude oil tanker M/T Kylo (also known as “Noxen”) in the Gulf of Oman by striking multiple critical points to render it inoperable after ordering the crew to abandon ship.”
CENTCOM’s statement also said the three vessels were “part of a multi-billion dollar covert network used to raise funds for the IRGC and its proxy forces in the region.”
“Let me send a clear message to the IRGC: if you fire on our two ships, we will respond with economic punishment far greater — that is, destroying three of your ships,” said Admiral Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander.
The US and Iran resumed tit-for-tat attacks earlier this week after more than a month-long pause, with both sides firing weapons at each other’s territories or military sites nearly daily.
Tasnim News Agency reported that the anchored oil tanker was hit by four explosive devices fired from the US military. There were no injuries or fatalities, and the crew were in the process of evacuating the ship.
A verified audio recording obtained by CNN revealed that a US military aircraft issued emergency warnings to the tanker. In one message, an American pilot said, “This is the US military aircraft to the oil tanker STARK 1. I am preparing to strike the stern of your ship. You have 10 minutes to move the crew off the stern. Over.”
In a follow-up communication, the ship was warned: “This is the final warning ... launch lifeboats and abandon ship immediately.”
During this, according to the CNN audio, a person claiming to be aboard the ship pleaded with the aircraft to stop firing, adding, “We have been completely destroyed.”
Follow international news:https://www.thairath.co.th/news/foreign
Source:cnn