US Strikes Iranian Tankers Following Missile Attack on Navy Ship
The US military announced that it destroyed multiple Iranian tankers near the Persian Gulf and Kharg Island following missile attacks on a warship.
The US military announced that multiple Iranian tankers were destroyed after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attempted twice to launch ballistic missile attacks on a US warship. Centcom reported that the crew successfully abandoned the ships following the attacks and that no American personnel were injured.
Missile Attacks and Destruction of Tankers
The US Central Command stated that forces belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attempted to target a US warship with a ballistic missile near the Gulf of Oman and Kharg Island. It was reported that the warship evaded the attacks and no US personnel were injured.
American forces struck Iranian tankers near the Gulf of Oman and Kharg Island after ensuring the crew abandoned the vessels. It was noted that these targeted tankers were part of a shadow network financing the Revolutionary Guard and its regional proxies.
Official Statements and the Diplomatic Front
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking during a visit to Colombia, emphasized that his country would not leave Iran's attacks unanswered. Rubio stated that if Iran continues to target US naval vessels, it will continue to lose its tankers.
Unmanned Underwater Vehicle Dispute
Prior to the attacks, a dispute arose over an American unmanned underwater vehicle in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state television announced that Revolutionary Guard naval forces had captured this vehicle in a complex operation and stated that footage of it would be broadcast.
The US military, however, argued that the unmanned submarine had malfunctioned the day before. Centcom spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins stated that the vehicle was an old and flawed model, did not collect sensitive data, and did not carry classified sonar or radar equipment.
Strait of Hormuz and Regional Tensions
Iran has been enforcing a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz—through which one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments pass—since the beginning of the war, which has lasted for over six months. In response, the US is maintaining its own blockade targeting Iranian ports.
Global Markets and Casualties
With clashes between the two countries resuming following a relative calm in August, global oil prices rose back to their July levels. While 18 US service members have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict, Iranian officials reported that the total death toll from US and Israel attacks has reached the thousands.