US Central Command confirmed airstrikes on three Iranian oil tankers on September 5, with at least one vessel permanently disabled near Kharg Island, the terminal responsible for roughly 90% of Iran’s crude exports. Crews evacuated the ships, and no casualties have been reported.
What happened
CENTCOM identified the three targeted vessels as the M/T Downy, the M/T Stark 1, and the M/T Kylo. Each met a slightly different fate.
The Downy was permanently disabled off the coast of Kharg Island. The Stark 1 was disabled near Jask, a port city along the Gulf of Oman. The Kylo was destroyed entirely in the Gulf of Oman after its crew abandoned ship.
According to Iranian state-affiliated media, four missiles struck the tanker near Kharg Island, a detail that broadly lines up with US accounts. CENTCOM stated that warnings were issued prior to the attacks, giving crews time to evacuate.
