US Sinks 5 Iranian Oil Tankers After Missile Attack on Warship
What Happened
The US military said it destroyed five Iranian oil tankers after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) allegedly launched ballistic missile attacks on a US Navy warship on two occasions in recent days. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the warship evaded the attacks without casualties and that the tankers were targeted in the Gulf of Oman and near Iran’s Kharg Island after crews were instructed to abandon ship.
Key Takeaways
The strikes mark another sharp escalation in the ongoing US-Iran conflict and heighten risks to global energy supplies. With both sides exchanging attacks around the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route, crude prices have climbed close to $100 a barrel, raising concerns over inflation and energy security worldwide.