**U.S. Forces Strike Three Iranian Oil Tankers Following Naval Engagement**
**DUBAI, U.A.E.** — U.S. forces conducted military strikes against three Iranian oil tankers on September 5, according to the U.S. Central Command. One of the targeted vessels was located near Kharg Island, a critical hub for Iran’s oil export infrastructure.
The U.S. military stated that the strikes were a retaliatory measure following an incident in which the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) allegedly fired ballistic missiles at two U.S. Navy ships. Central Command reported that no American personnel were injured during the exchange.
Admiral Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, characterized the strikes as an effort to impose economic costs on Iran. “Let the message to the IRGC be clear: If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost — taking out three of yours,” Cooper said.
The Iranian semi-official news agency Tasnim reported that four U.S. missiles struck a tanker near the anchorage at Kharg Island. According to local sources cited by the agency, the crew was evacuated, and no injuries were reported. Iranian authorities have not yet issued an official statement regarding the strikes.
The incident marks a significant escalation in a conflict that has persisted for several months, following initial U.S. military strikes against Iran in February. The ongoing hostilities have resulted in substantial disruptions to global energy supplies.
Kharg Island remains a focal point of the confrontation due to its strategic importance to the Iranian economy. Prior to the conflict, the island facilitated approximately 90 percent of Iran’s crude oil exports. These shipments have been heavily restricted since the implementation of a U.S. naval blockade in mid-April, which followed Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The geopolitical tension has impacted global energy markets, with Brent crude futures closing at $96.28 per barrel on Friday, the highest price recorded since July 24.
The latest exchange occurs amid heightened political sensitivity in the United States, where the conflict has faced domestic opposition ahead of the November congressional elections. While President Donald Trump previously suggested interest in taking control of Kharg Island, he later indicated that such an operation was not under consideration, shortly before an interim agreement was signed between Washington and Tehran on June 17.
Article and image source: israelherald.com
