US Destroys 8 Iranian Tankers After Missile Strikes on Navy Ships
Eight Iranian crude carriers disabled or destroyed since September 5 as Strait of Hormuz effectively shuts down.
The U.S. military launched retaliatory strikes against Iranian oil tankers on September 5, 2026, after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired ballistic missiles at two American warships in regional waters. According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the attacks targeted an aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer, but no U.S. personnel were injured.
In response, U.S. forces disabled three Iranian crude oil tankers. The M/T Downy was struck off Kharg Island, while the M/T Stark 1 was hit near Jask. Both vessels were left permanently inoperable. A third tanker, the unladen M/T Kylo (also known as the Noxen), was attacked in the Gulf of Oman, with U.S. forces ensuring its crew abandoned ship before rendering it unusable. CENTCOM stated the tankers were part of a network funding the IRGC and its regional proxies.
Strait of Hormuz Shuts Down Amid Rising Tensions
The conflict has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil supplies. Before the U.S. blockade began in mid-April, Iran—OPEC’s third-largest producer—exported 90% of its crude through Kharg Island. Since then, those flows have been severely disrupted.
Brent Crude
Adm. Brad Cooper, a senior CENTCOM official, issued a warning to the IRGC: “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 forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet.”
U.S. Vows Further Action as Iran Remains Silent
On September 8, CENTCOM confirmed the destruction of five additional Iranian oil tankers, escalating the military response. Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on September 4 against a Turkish investment bank, Golden Global Varlik Kiralama Anonim Sirketi, and two subsidiaries, accusing them of facilitating IRGC financial transactions.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared that the U.S. would “destroy and sink” Iranian oil tankers if attacks on American naval assets continued. Iran has not responded to the strikes or sanctions. With the Strait of Hormuz now a flashpoint, global energy markets face heightened uncertainty as the conflict shows no signs of de-escalation.
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