US Strikes Iranian Oil Tankers Following Attacks on American Warship

US forces targeted five Iranian oil tankers on September 8, 2026, sinking one vessel in response to two missile attacks on an American warship, according to US Central Command (Centcom). The strikes included four tankers in the Gulf of Oman linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and another near Kharg Island, a significant oil terminal off Iran's coast. In retaliation, Iran launched missiles at a US base in Jordan, with Jordanian officials reporting that 18 of the 20 missiles were intercepted, while two fell in unpopulated areas. Iran claimed to have attacked two US vessels and eight oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. The escalation follows a series of tit-for-tat strikes between the US and Iran, which intensified after US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28. Oil prices increased in Asia, with Brent crude rising by 1.5% to $99.35 per barrel. Centcom stated that the targeted Iranian tankers were part of a network funding the IRGC and its proxies. One of the struck vessels, the M/T Riesco, sank in the Gulf of Oman. Kharg Island, where one tanker was attacked, is crucial for Iran's oil exports, handling about 90% of the country's crude oil. The situation has been further complicated by attacks from Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement on Saudi energy facilities, resulting in injuries to 73 people. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented on the situation, stating that Iran's attempts to target US naval ships would result in losses for Iran. The US strikes coincided with claims from Iran's navy of seizing an uncrewed US submarine in the Strait of Hormuz, which US Navy Captain Tim Hawkins clarified was a malfunctioning underwater drone used for regional surveys.