World · India Bureau
US destroys Iranian oil tankers in response to missile attacks on warship
The United States military has destroyed five Iranian crude oil tankers following ballistic missile attacks on a US Navy vessel by Iran's Revolutionary Guard, according to US Central Command. The strikes represent the latest escalation in a cycle of tit-for-tat military actions between Washington and Tehran.
LSN India ·
US Central Command confirmed the destruction of the Iranian tankers on Tuesday, stating the action was a direct response to two separate Iranian attempts to strike an American warship with ballistic missiles over a two-day period. Iranian state television corroborated reports of the strikes, indicating that US forces attacked at least three Iranian oil tankers near the southern port of Jask and Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf, with crews reportedly evacuated before the attacks.
The escalating military confrontations mark a significant shift in US-Iran relations, with the two nations engaged in what analysts describe as a pattern of reciprocal strikes spanning more than six months of heightened tensions. The incidents underscore the fragile security situation in the Persian Gulf region, a critical waterway for global energy commerce.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington would not tolerate Iranian attacks without consequences, signalling the administration's resolve to respond to any future hostile actions. "Iran continues to try to hit US naval ships. For every time they do that or try to do that, they're going to lose tankers," Rubio told reporters, indicating that additional strikes could follow if Iranian missile attacks persist.