US Central Command forces struck three Iranian crude oil tankers on Saturday. The strikes were in response to unprovoked attacks by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Centcom said in a statement. The carriers targeted in the US strikes were M/T Downy off the coast of Kharg Island and M/T Stark 1 near Jask. A third vessel, M/T Kylo (also called "Noxen”), was 'rendered inoperable' in the Gulf of Oman after the crew were directed to abandon ship, Centcom added. US forces said the three tankers are part of a multibillion-dollar shadow network that funds the IRGC and its regional proxies.“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,” Centcom chief Admiral Brad Cooper said. “We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet.”The state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) outlet reported a US strike on an Iranian tanker near Kharg Island earlier on Saturday. The tanker was struck by four American missiles in the island's anchorage area, with no casualties initially reported and crew members safely evacuated, IRIB reported.“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. We will not hesitate to defend American f...
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