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CENTCOM struck three tankers - one VLCC sank
In a major escalation in the Persian Gulf. U.S. forces have officially adopted a "tanker-for-tanker" strategy, confirming strikes on three Iranian crude oil carriers in direct retaliation against the IRGC on Sep 5, 2026, after Iranian forces fired ballistic missiles at a U.S. aircraft carrier and a destroyer. Both American warships evaded the strikes, and no U.S. personnel were injured. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) struck back directly at Iran's oil infrastructure and permanently disabled two tankers, the 'Downy' off Iran's main oil hub, Kharg Island, and the 'Stark 1' (IMO: 9171450) near Jask, which received three warnings over the VHF channel. In the first, a US military aircraft tells the tanker: "Motor Tanker STARK 1, this is the United States military aircraft. I am preparing to fire at your stern. You have 3 minutes to clear the crew from the stern of your ship. Over." The second cut that to one minute. The third was final: "This was your final warning... get into your lifeboats and abandon the ship immediately." Between the warnings, crew members could be heard talking in Persian and Urdu. One asked whether the captain and his deputy are at their posts. He was told the captain was still asleep. The tanker was carrying Iranian oil and was first sanctioned by Washington in 2018. Both vessels received a single small missile strike at the transom, intended to disable but not destroy the vessels. A third tanker, the 'Kylo' (IMO: 9189146) was completely destroyed in the Gulf of Oman by striking the vessel in multiple critical locations to render it inoperable, after the crew was directed to abandon ship. There were multiple hits on the tanker's weather deck, followed by two heavy strikes that blew through the port side shell plating and out the starboard side, consistent with an antiship cruise missile attack. The tanker started to list to starboard side and finally sank. The ship was in ballast at the time, reducing the consequences of a spill. Videos: https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/2096247889366290840/video/1 https://twitter.com/i/status/2096397091769565468
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