US Military Strikes Iranian Tankers Amid Rising Tensions
The US Central Command has released footage of an Iranian tanker sinking after a military strike, escalating tensions in the Gulf region.
US forces targeted three Iranian oil tankers after missile threats from Iran.
The M/T Kylo was reported as 'completely destroyed' in the Gulf of Oman.
Iran's foreign ministry condemned the attacks as a violation of international law.
The US Central Command (Centcom) has unveiled a video depicting the M/T Kylo, an Iranian oil tanker, engulfed in flames before it sank in the Gulf of Oman. This incident follows a series of missile threats from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) aimed at US Navy warships operating in the region. Centcom has issued a stern warning to Iran, stating that any further attacks on US vessels will result in significant economic repercussions.
On Saturday, local time, US forces executed strikes on three Iranian crude oil carriers, including the M/T Kylo, after the IRGC launched ballistic missiles towards US Navy ships. Centcom confirmed that the M/T Kylo was destroyed due to precision strikes on critical areas of the vessel, leading to its sinking. The crew was reportedly instructed to abandon ship prior to the attack.
In a statement on social media platform X, Centcom highlighted the professionalism of US service members in the operation. They noted that the M/T Downy and M/T Stark 1 were also rendered inoperable during the strikes. Fortunately, no American personnel were injured during the Iranian missile attacks, as US naval forces successfully evaded the incoming threats.
The implications of these strikes extend beyond immediate military actions. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth emphasized that any aggression from Iran towards US ships would lead to the destruction of Iranian oil tankers. He stated, "If Iran shoots at U.S. ships, we will destroy their oil tankers," underscoring the vulnerability of Iran's maritime assets. Centcom commander Brad Cooper reiterated this stance, linking the Iranian tanker fleet to a broader financial network supporting the IRGC and its proxies.
In response to the US actions, Iran's foreign ministry condemned the strikes as a violation of the United Nations Charter, labeling them as war crimes. They argued that these military actions represent a continuation of US aggression against Iran and threaten international peace and maritime trade. As tensions escalate, the international community watches closely for potential further developments in this volatile situation.
