TL;DR
US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on September 8, 2026 that US forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers in response to two ballistic-missile attacks on a US Navy warship by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) over the previous two days. Iran subsequently warned it would strike tankers at Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports, markedly escalating tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.
Event overview
On September 8, 2026, US Central Command issued a statement saying US forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers that day. The statement said that over the previous two days, the IRGC had launched ballistic missiles at a US Navy warship twice; the ship evaded the attacks and continued its patrol, with no US casualties. CENTCOM described the operation as a response to Iran's failed attacks, and said crews were directed to abandon the vessels before the strikes.
Key facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date | September 8, 2026 |
| Actors | US Central Command / Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps |
| Event | US forces destroyed 5 Iranian crude oil carriers in response to two missile attacks on a US warship over two days |
| Locations | 4 in the Gulf of Oman, 1 near Kharg Island |
| Vessels | M/T Kaviz, M/T Charminar, M/T Horizon 1, M/T Riesco (Gulf of Oman); M/T Derya (near Kharg Island) — all IRGC-controlled carriers |
| Casualties | No US casualties; crews directed to abandon ship before the strikes |
Follow-up escalation: on the evening of September 8, the IRGC warned it would strike tankers at Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports; the US Treasury announced a new round of sanctions on Iran's aviation industry the same day; Jordan's military said on September 9 that its air defenses destroyed 18 ballistic missiles fired at Jordan from Iran. On Iran's claim of capturing a US unmanned underwater vehicle, CENTCOM responded that the device was an older model that had malfunctioned and collected no sensitive data.
Background and impact
The incident is a significant escalation in the recent US–Iran standoff at sea. International oil prices rose on the Strait of Hormuz tensions: WTI crude futures settled at $93.03 per barrel (+1.69%), and Brent at $97.92 per barrel (+0.95%), with media noting prices approaching the $100 mark. UN-related bodies are monitoring risks to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the potential impact on global energy and food supply chains.
Official sources
- Xinhua: US Central Command says it destroyed 5 Iranian oil tankers: link
- Xinhua: Daily World Briefing, Sept. 9: link
- CBS News: U.S.-Iran War Updates: link
- Air & Space Forces Magazine: US Strikes 5 Iranian Oil Tankers: link
- The Telegraph: US destroys Iranian oil tankers after IRGC launches ballistic missiles: link
- Eastmoney: Overnight global briefing, Wednesday (oil closing prices): link