US hits three Iranian oil tankers after saying its warships were targeted
US Central Command says the attacks came after Iran launched ballistic missiles at two of its Navy warships.
US strikes three Iranian oil tankers after saying its warships were targeted
The US military says it struck three Iran-linked oil tankers after ballistic missiles were fired toward two of its warships in the region.
US Central Command (Centcom) said on Saturday that it had "permanently disabled" one tanker near Kharg Island and another near the Strait of Hormuz, and "completely destroyed" a third in the Gulf of Oman.
Centcom said it "successfully evaded" multiple attacks from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) aimed at a US aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyer. No American troops were harmed, it said in a statement.
Earlier, Iranian state media reported that one of its oil tankers had been hit by US missiles off the coast of Kharg Island.
"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," said Admiral Brad Cooper, Centcom's commander.
"We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran's limited and exposed oil fleet."
The strikes come nearly a week after renewed attacks between the US and Iran, following a month of relative calm between the warring sides.
The US and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran on 28 February, and Iran responded by attacking Israel, US bases and allied states in the Gulf, and effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz to marine traffic.