US Destroys 3 Iranian Tankers After Warships Attacked in Gulf

The US military struck and disabled three crude oil tankers operated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) after Iranian forces launched ballistic missiles at two US Navy warships patrolling regional waters. According to a statement released by US Central Command (CENTCOM) on X, an American aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer “evaded multiple unprovoked Iranian attacks,” with no US personnel injured and no damage reported to the naval vessels.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. In immediate retaliation, US forces conducted precision strikes against three IRGC-linked vessels. CENTCOM reported that American strikes permanently disabled the crude oil tanker M/T Downy off the coast of Kharg Island and the M/T Stark 1 near the port of Jask. A third vessel, the unladen tanker M/T Kylo (also known as Noxen), was struck in multiple critical areas in the Gulf of Oman and subsequently sank, which CENTCOM later confirmed through released video footage. “The three Iranian crude oil tankers are part of a multi-billion dollar illicit shadow network that finances the IRGC and its regional proxies,” CENTCOM stated. “Iran has no means to protect them.” Thanks to the precision and professionalism of American service members, the M/T Kylo sank in the Gulf of Oman today and joined Iran’s navy at the bottom of the sea. pic.twitter.com/OwSDMl8SSQ— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) September 6, 2026 Following the strikes, the IRGC announced that it targeted six vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, claiming the group included three ships linked to the US and three commercial oil tankers. According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, the IRGC characterized the operation as retaliation for the US strikes on its tankers, alleging the commercial vessels had navigated through “unauthorized routes.” Other Topics of Interest US Envoys Hold 3-Hour Kremlin Talks With Putin US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for three hours to present ideas on ending the war. Iranian military authorities subsequently issued warnings to maritime traffic across the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, ordering vessels to avoid lanes not sanctioned by Tehran. Escalation risks and threats to European bases The direct exchange of fire marks a significant escalation in maritime hostilities amid stalled diplomatic negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz shipping corridor. The maritime clashes follow warnings from Iranian regime insiders that Tehran has considered expanding its retaliatory targets beyond the Middle East to include US military assets in southeastern Europe and Cyprus. Insiders previously indicated that Iranian commanders evaluated potential strikes against facilities such as Bulgaria’s Bezmer air base – which approved refueling operations for US aircraft – and the British sovereign base at RAF Akrotiri on Cyprus, which was struck by an explosive drone in March. Iranian planners have also examined targeting subsea fiber-optic cables traversing the Strait of Hormuz if hostilities continue to intensify. The threats coincided with statements from US President Donald Trump warning that Washington would target Iranian domestic infrastructure, declaring the US would destroy a bridge or power plant in Iran every time Tehran attacks a ship navigating the strait. While defense analysts note that Iranian medium-range ballistic missiles face accuracy limitations at extended ranges, Tehran’s rhetoric has grown uncompromising. The appointment of hardline former IRGC commander Mohsen Rezaei as Iran’s top security official has underscored Tehran’s willingness to absorb higher risks and impose broader economic and military costs on Washington and its allies amid the breakdown of maritime transit talks. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.