US Strikes Iranian Ships After Missile Attack on Aircraft Carrier
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US Strikes Iranian Ships After Missile Attack on Aircraft Carrier
- On Saturday, September 5, 2026, the U.S. military struck three Iranian oil tankers after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched ballistic missiles toward two U.S. Navy warships, including an aircraft carrier, in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), stated that the U.S. would not hesitate to defend American forces and, if necessary, destroy Iran's oil fleet.
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On September 5, 2026, U.S. forces conducted strikes on three Iranian oil tankers in retaliation for an Iranian missile attack targeting two U.S. Navy warships in regional waters. According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired ballistic missiles toward a U.S. aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer, but both U.S. ships successfully evaded the attacks, and no American personnel were injured.
The U.S. military identified the targeted Iranian oil tankers as M/T Downy, M/T Stark 1, and M/T Kylo. The M/T Downy was hit near Kharg Island, and the M/T Stark 1 was struck near Jask, a coastal city in Iran; both were “permanently disabled.” The M/T Kylo was hit in the Gulf of Oman, rendered inoperable, and “completely destroyed,” with its crew instructed to abandon ship prior to the strike. CENTCOM stated that these tankers were part of a “multibillion-dollar shadow network” funding the IRGC and its regional proxies.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the U.S. strikes as a “war crime” and warned of further escalation, accusing the U.S. of violating Article 2(4) of the U.N. Charter. The IRGC, in turn, claimed to have targeted three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and three U.S.-linked vessels elsewhere in response to the American attacks, stating that continued U.S. military action would lead to “heavier” responses. This exchange of hostilities marks an intensification of efforts by both sides to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil and gas transit.