US Destroys 5 Iranian Oil Tankers Amid Escalating Gulf Tensions
Apnews · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago3 MIN
Summary
The United States military announced on Tuesday that it had destroyed five Iranian oil tankers near Kharg Island in retaliation for ballistic missile attacks by Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) on American warships over the previous two days. This latest exchange represents a significant escalation in hostilities that began more than six months ago, with both nations now openly targeting each other's maritime assets in the strategically vital Persian Gulf region. The strikes came as President Donald Trump's administration simultaneously imposed sweeping new sanctions on Iran's aviation sector, seeking to further isolate Tehran from its remaining international trading partners.
Key Points
- US Central Command confirmed that American forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers on Tuesday near Kharg Island, with crews ordered to abandon ship before the vessels were rendered inoperable .
- The retaliation followed an IRGC ballistic missile attack attempt on a US aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyer that was successfully evaded, according to US military officials .
- Three additional Iranian oil tankers were destroyed on Saturday after similar IRGC attack attempts, bringing the total to eight tankers destroyed within days .
- The Trump administration imposed sanctions targeting more than two dozen commercial and private airlines along with foreign cargo service providers as part of its pressure campaign against Iran's oil-dependent economy .
- Senator Marco Rubio warned that Iran would lose additional tankers for every future attack on US naval vessels while visiting Colombia on Tuesday .
- Brent crude oil prices briefly climbed to $99.46 per barrel on Tuesday, reflecting market concerns over potential disruption to the Strait of Hormuz through which approximately one-fifth of global oil previously passed .
- Iran has announced plans to establish a new "exclusion zone" near the Strait of Hormuz targeting vessels intending to transit the waterway .
Why It Matters
The escalating exchange places approximately one-fifth of the world's oil supply at risk as both nations seek to control the Strait of Hormuz, with rising energy prices already posing political challenges for Trump ahead of November midterm elections. Danny Citrinowicz of Israel's Institute for National Security Studies warned that such tit-for-tat strikes could rapidly spiral beyond control, raising the prospect of a broader regional conflict that could destabilize global energy markets and draw in other powers .
The escalating exchange places approximately one-fifth of the world's oil supply at risk as both nations seek to control the Strait of Hormuz, with rising energy prices already posing political challenges for Trump ahead of November midterm elections. Danny Citrinowicz of Israel's Institute for National Security Studies warned that such tit-for-tat strikes could rapidly spiral beyond control, raising the prospect of a broader regional conflict that could destabilize global energy markets and draw in other powers .