U.S. Strikes 3 Iranian Tankers After Iran Fires Missiles at 2 U.S. Warships

Key Facts

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces struck 3 Iranian crude oil tankers on September 5, 2026, permanently disabling 2 and destroying the third vessel, which was unladen.

The strikes followed ballistic missiles launched by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) toward 2 U.S. Navy warships: an aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer. CENTCOM said both ships evaded the attacks and no U.S. personnel were harmed.

CENTCOM identified the disabled vessels as M/T Downy off Kharg Island and M/T Stark 1 near Jask. M/T Kylo, also known as Noxen, was destroyed in the Gulf of Oman after its crew was directed to abandon ship.

CENTCOM said the tankers were part of a multibillion-dollar shadow network helping to fund the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its regional proxies. Axios had reported that President Donald Trump approved a tanker-for-tanker policy to deter Iranian attacks on tankers, but CENTCOM did not use that label in its latest release.

The operation comes while oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz remain far below pre-conflict levels. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimated that oil and petroleum-liquid flows through the strait averaged 4,900,000 barrels a day in the second quarter (Q2) of 2026, versus 21,600,000 barrels a day in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2025.

The direct supply loss from these strikes alone cannot be quantified. M/T Kylo was unladen, while the release did not disclose the cargo aboard M/T Downy or M/T Stark 1; the near-term impact on exports, freight and insurance therefore depends more on navigational security and subsequent responses than on the number of damaged vessels.

AP reported that U.S. forces are helping guide ships through the strait, although overall traffic remains low. For oil markets, actual transit volumes and producers' ability to ship crude matter more than the number of tankers struck.

Attention now turns to Tehran's response, new maritime warnings and whether commercial vessels can continue crossing. Attacks on additional ships or ports could increase delays and transport costs, while sustained transit could limit the direct supply impact.