(STRAIT OF HORMUZ) – The United States military has destroyed three Iranian crude oil tankers in response to ballistic missile attacks on two US Navy warships patrolling regional waters, US Central Command confirmed on 6th September 2026.
US Central Command stated that the strikes targeted IRGC affiliated vessels after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched ballistic missiles towards a US aircraft carrier and a guided missile destroyer. Both warships successfully evaded what CENTCOM described as “multiple unprovoked Iranian attacks.” No American personnel were harmed.
The vessels destroyed include the MT Downey off the coast of Kharg Island, the MT Stark 1 near Jask, and the unladen crude oil tanker MT Kilo in the Gulf of Oman. The MT Kilo was struck in multiple critical locations to render it inoperable after the crew was directed to abandon ship. There have been no reports of crew casualties at this time.
Admiral Cooper, head of US Central Command, said: “Let the message to the IRGC be clear. If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost, taking out three of yours. We will not hesitate to defend American forces and, if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet.”
The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran’s IRGC has fired ballistic missiles at US forces throughout the conflict, but the attempted attack on the warships was seen as a major escalation, according to US officials.
The incident follows a series of US attacks against Iran several days ago, which targeted mobile missile launchers, air defence sites, and other military infrastructure. Iran also launched a series of ballistic missiles and drones throughout the Middle East.
Questions have emerged regarding a potential US strike on a wedding party in southern Iran. The New York Times reported that around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, a wedding was struck by a bomb that, according to a weapons expert, had been released by American forces during intense attacks in southern Iran. At least five wedding guests were killed, including a six year old boy, and at least 67 other people were wounded.
The New York Times collected videos of weapons remnants filmed after the attacks and shared them with Trevor Ball, a former US Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician and analyst at Armament Research Services. He identified the remnants as components of a glide bomb used by US Central Command and not used by Iran’s forces. The tail fin and distinctive casing were consistent with the Joint Standoff Weapon, or JSOW.
Central Command spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins responded to the reports, saying: “We are aware of reports which originated from Iranian state media. The US military never targets civilians unlike the IRGC.”
Reuters reported that a communications tower destroyed in the attack was located just 135 metres from the wedding celebration site and was hit at approximately the same time. US officials are examining whether the incident was caused by a US strike, with some suggesting it may have been a ricochet off a US interceptor, while others have suggested it could have been an Iranian interceptor.
Despite these reports, there is no indication that the United States deliberately targeted a wedding, with analysts suggesting it appears to have been a miss or errant targeting.
The Wall Street Journal provided analysis on the broader strategic situation, noting that Iran’s calculation six months ago, when it shut down the Strait of Hormuz and bottled up one of the world’s crude oil supplies, proved erroneous. The move did not trigger a worldwide economic crisis or force an end to the war on Iranian terms.
However, the US blockade of Iranian ports, imposed in April and reimposed in July after a short lived memorandum on reopening the waterway collapsed, has not changed Iran’s behaviour either. Despite growing economic disruption, the blockade did not spur a popular uprising against the Islamic Republic and did not convince Iran to open the strait to allow free navigation.
Vali Nasr, professor of Middle East studies at Johns Hopkins and a former State Department official, said: “The assumptions of both sides have not come true, and both of them also do not have an exit.”
A senior Gulf Arab official added: “Time is not benefiting either side. But the clock is ticking more for the Iranians because they are under enormous economic strain. The American clock is more about politics and public opinion than economic pain.”
There are also reports of pushback within the US military and intelligence communities regarding the ongoing conflict. Senior US military officials have reportedly questioned the war plan, seeking an end date due to concerns about sustaining the blockade indefinitely. The head of US Pacific Command has expressed concerns about losing the ability to deter China and project power should something happen with Taiwan.
US munition shortages and stockpile questions have also emerged as significant concerns as the conflict continues.
Footage of the strikes was released by US Central Command.
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