The U.S. Central Command announced on Saturday that U.S. forces destroyed three Iranian oil tankers after Iran launched ballistic missiles at two U.S. Navy warships earlier in the day. The strikes, carried out by surface ships and aircraft, targeted the vessels in the Gulf of Oman and off the coast of Iran’s main oil‑export hub, Kharg Island.

Background of the Iranian missile attacks

According to the BBC and Reuters, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired the missiles at the U.S. destroyer USS Ramsey and the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge. Both ships detected and evaded the projectiles, sustaining no damage or casualties. The missile launch marked the latest escalation in a series of confrontations that have intensified over the past week, following earlier exchanges of fire between the two sides.

Watch: BREAKING: US strikes THREE Iranian oil tankers — Fox News

Details of the U.S. strikes

U.S. officials described the three tankers as part of a "shadow network" that transports Iranian crude and generates revenue for Tehran’s regional proxies. The New York Times reported that the military classified the vessels as linked to Iran’s support for groups in Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq. One tanker was hit near Kharg Island, while the other two were struck in international waters of the Gulf of Oman, according to statements from the Pentagon and multiple news outlets including Al Jazeera, CNBC and the Washington Post.

"We have taken decisive action to neutralize three Iranian oil tankers that were directly supporting the IRGC’s illicit activities," a CENTCOM spokesperson said, as quoted by Reuters.

All three ships were reportedly set ablaze and began to take on water. Initial assessments from U.S. forces indicated that the vessels were either sinking or heavily damaged, though the exact status was still being confirmed at the time of reporting. No U.S. personnel were injured in the operation.

US Navy 021109-N-2383B-698 Lt. Scott Henrickson, center, Fire Controlman 2nd Class Martin Haebeck, left, and Operations Specialist 2nd Class Edison Faggett, stand at parade rest during the guided missile destroyer USS Preble's
US Navy 021109-N-2383B-698 Lt. Scott Henrickson, center, Fire Controlman 2nd Class Martin Haebeck, left, and Operations Specialist 2nd Class Edison Faggett, stand at parade rest during the guided missile destroyer USS Preble's (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

Iranian and international reactions

Iranian state media, cited by Iran International and the Times of Israel, condemned the attacks as unlawful aggression and claimed the U.S. had targeted civilian vessels in sovereign waters. Tehran’s foreign ministry warned of "further retaliation" if the United States continued to threaten Iranian interests.

U.S. officials, including former President Donald Trump in a live interview referenced by CBS News, downplayed the broader significance, calling the incident "small potatoes" in the context of the overall U.S.–Iran rivalry. Nevertheless, the Pentagon emphasized that the strikes were a calibrated response intended to deter further missile attacks and to disrupt financial flows to Iran‑backed militias.

Analysts observed that the operation demonstrated a shift toward targeting economic assets rather than solely military targets. Axios noted that the U.S. appears to be employing a "tit‑for‑tat" strategy, aiming to raise the cost of Iranian aggression without escalating to a full‑scale conflict.

US Navy 040219-N-1464F-006 Fire Controlman 3rd Class Jeremy Hodgin, of Lawton, Okla., waits for the signal to cast off the lines
US Navy 040219-N-1464F-006 Fire Controlman 3rd Class Jeremy Hodgin, of Lawton, Okla., waits for the signal to cast off the lines (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

While the United Nations has not yet issued a formal statement, the incident adds to mounting diplomatic pressure on both Washington and Tehran to avoid a broader escalation in the strategically vital Persian Gulf region. The International Maritime Organization is expected to review the safety of navigation in the area in light of the recent hostilities.