US hits 3 Iranian oil tankers after saying its warships were targeted

5 September 2026, 15: 35 BST.

Key points

• Centcom remarked it "successfully evaded" multiple attacks from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeting a US aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyer.
• Iranian state media earlier documented that one of its oil tankers had been struck by US missiles off the coast of Kharg Island.
• The US military notes it has hit three Iran-linked oil tankers after ballistic missiles were rolled out towards two of its warships in the region.
• "We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran's limited and exposed oil fleet."
• The strikes come almost a week after renewed attacks between the US and Iran.

For context, the US military notes it has hit three Iran-linked oil tankers after ballistic missiles were rolled out towards two of its warships in the region.

US Central Command (Centcom) remarked on Saturday it had "permanently disabled" a tanker near Kharg Island and another near the Strait of Hormuz, and "completely destroyed" a third in the Gulf of Oman.

Centcom remarked it "successfully evaded" multiple attacks from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeting a US aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyer. No American troops were harmed, it remarked in an official note.

"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, " remarked Admiral Brad Cooper, Centcom's commander.

In practice, the strikes come almost a week after renewed attacks between the US and Iran. It followed a month of relative calm between the warring sides.

For now, US hits 3 Iranian oil tankers after saying its warships were targeted remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.