CENTCOM says US forces destroyed five Iranian oil tankers

US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces have destroyed five Iranian tankers carrying crude oil, the command said in a statement.

The tankers — IRGC-linked M/T Kaviz, M/T Charminar, M/T Horizon 1 and M/T Riesco — were destroyed in the Gulf of Oman, while the M/T Derya was struck near Iran’s Kharg Island. CENTCOM said the vessels were part of Iran’s “shadow network,” Caliber.Az reports.

The command added that the tanker crews had been warned of the impending strikes and ordered to abandon the vessels. It was not immediately clear whether any sailors were injured in the attacks.

CENTCOM described the strikes as a response to actions by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which had attempted twice over the previous two days to target a US warship with ballistic missiles. The vessel evaded the missiles and continued its patrol.

By Jeyhun Aghazada