Amir Vahdat and Toqa EzzidinSep 6, 2026 – 10.11amCairo | US forces struck three Iranian oil tankers after navy warships were targeted with ballistic missiles, the American military said, warning that it would “if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet”. Experts called it a dangerous escalation after Iran’s previous attacks at sea targeted commercial shipping.The strikes – a day after US President Donald Trump sought to minimise the conflict as “small potatoes” – keep up a new tilt back towards fighting after six months of on-again, off-again war that began with US and Israeli attacks on the country on February 28.APSubscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles