The US military sank an Iranian oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, marking one of the most significant kinetic actions against Iran’s petroleum infrastructure in decades. US Central Command confirmed that the M/T Kylo, a Comoros-flagged vessel also known as the Noxen, was completely destroyed after its crew abandoned ship.
The Kylo was one of three Iranian crude oil tankers struck by US forces on September 5, 2026. The other two vessels, the M/T Downy and M/T Stark 1, were permanently disabled but remained afloat. All three tankers were labeled by CENTCOM as components of a multibillion-dollar funding network linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
What triggered the strikes
The US military framed the attacks as retaliation. According to CENTCOM, the IRGC launched missile strikes targeting two US Navy warships operating in regional waters. A US aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer successfully evaded the incoming fire, and no American casualties were reported.
CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper reinforced that calculus, stating the US will impose substantial economic repercussions on the IRGC for aggressive actions against US naval assets. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed the posture, suggesting a continued strategy of targeting Iranian oil transport as a form of deterrence.
