US military says it struck three Iranian tankers after American warships came under missile attack
The US military has struck three Iranian oil tankers following missile attacks on American warships in the Gulf of Oman. The Pentagon stated that two tankers were disabled and one was destroyed, warning of further action to protect US forces.
Why it matters
This represents a significant escalation in military tensions between the US and Iran, with potential implications for global oil markets and regional stability.
A US Centcom image of a US military strike on an Iranian oil tanker off the in the Gulf of Oman on 5 September 2026./Getty Images A US Centcom image of a US military strike on an Iranian oil tanker off the in the Gulf of Oman on 5 September 2026./Getty Images US-Israel war on Iran US military says it struck three Iranian tankers after American warships came under missile attack Officials said US aircraft carrier and destroyer avoided attacks before three Iranian tankers were struck by the US
Prefer the Guardian on Google The US military said Saturday it struck three Iranian oil tankers after US navy warships came under missile attack, further escalating tensions in the region and warning it would “if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet”.
Also covering this story
16 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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