Cooper threatens to destroy Iran’s ‘limited and exposed’ oil fleet
Centcom said Saturday it “permanently disabled” tankers near Kharg Island and the Strait of Hormuz, and “completely destroyed” a third in the Gulf of Oman. All three tankers were Iran-linked, according to the command.
“We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet,” Centcom commander Admiral Brad Cooper said. “Let the message to the IRGC be clear: If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost — taking out three of yours,” Cooper added.
The strikes were carried out after Centcom reported IRGC attacks on two US warships.
The attacks targeted a US aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer in the Gulf region, Centcom said. The command said it “successfully evaded” multiple IRGC attacks; no American troops were harmed.
Iranian state media earlier reported that one of its oil tankers had been struck by US missiles off the coast of Kharg Island.
The strikes came nearly a week after renewed attacks between the US and Iran, ending roughly a month of relative calm between the warring sides.
The broader conflict began on February 28, when the US and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran.
Iran responded by attacking Israel, US bases and allied states in the Gulf, and effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz to marine traffic.