An American aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer managed to evade the incoming attacks, according to CENTCOM.
Most importantly, no American service members were injured.
But Iran’s failed attack did not go unanswered.
Three Iranian Tankers Taken Out
CENTCOM said U.S. forces targeted the M/T Downy near Kharg Island and the M/T Stark 1 near Jask, leaving both ships permanently disabled.
The response against the third tanker was even more devastating.
American forces completely destroyed the M/T Kylo, which CENTCOM said is also known as the “Noxen,” in the Gulf of Oman.
According to the military, the vessel was not carrying crude oil when it was attacked.
Its crew was reportedly ordered to abandon the ship before American forces struck multiple critical areas of the tanker, leaving it incapable of further operations.
CENTCOM released footage showing the strikes.
The dramatic military action signals that Washington is prepared to impose direct economic consequences on Tehran when American forces come under attack.
And CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper did not mince words about the message the operation was intended to send.
“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,” Cooper said.
“We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet.”
CENTCOM Says Tankers Help Finance the IRGC
The importance of the targeted ships goes beyond the vessels themselves.
CENTCOM described the three tankers as components of a massive network used to generate money for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its proxies throughout the Middle East.
“The three Iranian crude oil tankers are part of a multibillion-dollar shadow network that funds the IRGC and its regional proxies. Iran has no means by which to defend them.”
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That makes the latest strikes both a military retaliation and an economic blow.
Instead of limiting its response to the weapons systems allegedly used against American ships, the United States went after assets tied to Iran’s ability to generate revenue.
The strikes also come amid reports that President Donald Trump has authorized a tougher “tanker for tanker” approach toward Iranian aggression at sea.
Under that strategy, attacks on shipping could bring direct retaliation against Iran’s own tanker fleet, potentially raising the financial price Tehran pays every time it attempts to threaten American or allied vessels.
Earlier in the week, U.S. forces reportedly struck tankers following Iranian attacks on ships operating around the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
Saturday’s action appears to escalate that pressure considerably.
Iran’s Attack Fails — And Its Tanker Fleet Pays the Price
CENTCOM provided a detailed account of the confrontation in its statement:
“TAMPA, Fla. — U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces struck three Iranian crude oil carriers, Sept. 5, after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched ballistic missiles toward two U.S. Navy warships patrolling regional waters.”
“A U.S. aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyer successfully evaded multiple unprovoked Iranian attacks. No American personnel were harmed.”
The statement continued:
“Following Iran’s failed attacks, CENTCOM permanently disabled the IRGC crude oil carriers M/T Downy off the coast of Kharg Island and M/T Stark 1 near Jask. American forces also completely destroyed the unladen crude oil carrier M/T Kylo (also known as the ‘Noxen’) in the Gulf of Oman, striking the vessel in multiple critical locations to render it inoperable after the crew was directed to abandon ship.”
The sequence of events could hardly have produced a worse outcome for Tehran.
Iran allegedly fired ballistic missiles toward two American warships.
The American vessels escaped without casualties.
Then three ships associated with Iran’s oil network were put out of commission.
Cooper summed up Washington’s new posture in unmistakable terms:
“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.”
The warning is now backed by more than rhetoric.
CENTCOM released the footage to prove it.
