Retaliatory strike hits Iranian tankers again, three days after first attack
The US military said Tuesday (local time) that it destroyed five Iranian oil tankers in response to attacks by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on US Navy ships.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a press release that day that the sinking of the tankers was "retaliation for the IRGC's two ballistic missile attacks on US Navy vessels over the past two days."
CENTCOM said, "US Navy ships successfully evaded Iran's attempted attacks and continued patrolling the region," adding that no US personnel were injured.
CENTCOM said it sank a total of five tankers — four IRGC-operated vessels in the Gulf of Oman and one near Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export terminal — and released the names of the vessels.
CENTCOM explained, "US forces notified the tanker crews to abandon ship before striking and disabling the vessels." It went on to say, "Iran has used these tankers as part of a multibillion-dollar shadow network that funds the IRGC and regional proxies." It added, "Iran has no means whatsoever to defend these vessels."
This marks the second time in three days that the US military has sunk Iranian oil tankers in retaliation for attacks on US Navy vessels, following a similar strike Saturday.
CENTCOM had said it also disabled three tankers Saturday — two near Kharg Island and one in the Gulf of Oman.
yckim6452@heraldcorp.com
