US Destroys Five Iranian Oil Tankers After Attack on American Warship

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States has destroyed five Iranian oil tankers after accusing Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of launching ballistic-missile attacks against a U.S. Navy warship, marking a sharp escalation in the ongoing confrontation between Washington and Tehran. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces destroyed the five Iranian crude-oil carriers on September 8 after the IRGC targeted an American warship twice over a two-day period. According to CENTCOM, the U.S. vessel successfully evaded the attacks and no American personnel were injured. The tankers identified by CENTCOM were Kaviz, Charminar, Horizon 1 and Riesco, which were struck in the Gulf of Oman, and Derya, which was targeted near Iran’s Kharg Island. CENTCOM said crews were warned to abandon the vessels before the strikes and that the ships were subsequently rendered inoperable. The U.S. military said the tankers were part of an Iranian oil-smuggling network allegedly used to finance the IRGC and its regional allies. Iran Retaliates Iran has condemned the U.S. strikes and threatened further retaliation. Iranian authorities subsequently claimed attacks against several vessels near the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, while Iranian forces also launched missiles toward a U.S. military facility in Jordan. The United States has disputed some of Iran’s claims concerning damage to American vessels. The maritime confrontation has heightened fears of a wider regional conflict and further disruption to commercial shipping through the Gulf. Oil Prices Surge Above $100 The escalating confrontation is already being felt in global energy markets. Brent crude rose above $100 a barrel, its highest level since July, as traders assessed the possibility of prolonged disruptions to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important energy corridors. The Strait of Hormuz is particularly significant because disruptions there can affect global supplies and increase transportation and insurance costs for energy shipments. The latest escalation therefore carries consequences beyond the U.S.-Iran conflict, with higher oil prices potentially adding to inflationary pressures and raising fuel costs for countries that depend heavily on imported petroleum. A Dangerous New Phase The exchange of attacks represents one of the most serious escalations in the six-month-old U.S.-Iran conflict. With Washington targeting Iranian oil infrastructure and Tehran threatening American and commercial shipping, concerns are growing that the confrontation could further destabilise the Middle East and disrupt global energy markets. Source: U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), Reuters, Associated Press and Al Jazeera — September 8–10, 2026. Editorial Note: Claims concerning attacks, damage to vessels and military objectives have been attributed to the respective parties or independent reporting. FACTFUL24 has not independently verified all battlefield claims.