The United States has destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) twice targeted a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles, sharply escalating the confrontation between Washington and Tehran.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the warship evaded both attacks and that no American personnel were injured. The five tankers were struck on September 8 after their crews were ordered to abandon the vessels.

The operation comes just days after US forces destroyed three other Iranian crude carriers following attempted attacks on a US aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer. Washington has now warned that further Iranian attacks on US naval assets could trigger additional strikes on Iranian oil shipping.

Five Tankers Destroyed

CENTCOM identified the vessels as M/T Kaviz, M/T Charminar, M/T Horizon 1 and M/T Riesco in the Gulf of Oman, along with M/T Derya near Kharg Island.

The US command said the vessels were linked to what it described as a multibillion-dollar Iranian “shadow network” used to fund the IRGC and its regional proxies. American forces directed the crews to leave the ships before they were struck and rendered inoperable.

Iranian media also reported attacks near the country's key oil-export locations, including Kharg Island and Jask. Initial reports indicated that crews had been evacuated, with no immediate reports of casualties.

Missile Attacks Triggered Strikes

CENTCOM said the latest action was directly linked to two ballistic-missile attacks carried out by the IRGC against a US Navy warship over two days.

According to the US military, the warship successfully avoided both attacks and remained on patrol in regional waters. Washington said no US personnel were harmed.

The latest confrontation follows a similar US operation on September 5, when three Iranian crude carriers were destroyed after Iranian forces attempted to attack a US aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer.

Rubio Issues Fresh Warning

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio signalled that Washington intends to continue the tanker campaign if Iran keeps attacking American naval forces.

Speaking during a visit to Colombia, Rubio said Iran would continue to lose tankers whenever it attempted to strike US Navy ships. His remarks came as the latest five-vessel operation was confirmed by CENTCOM.

The warning indicates that the tanker strikes are becoming part of a broader US strategy aimed at imposing direct economic and military costs on Tehran.

Iran Threatens Gulf Shipping

Iran has responded by threatening commercial shipping linked to US-allied Gulf states.

The IRGC warned tanker crews at ports in Kuwait and Bahrain to leave their vessels, saying the ships could be targeted in retaliation. The threat has raised fresh concerns about the safety of commercial shipping around the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

The waterway is strategically important for global energy supplies, making any disruption potentially significant for oil markets and international shipping.

Jordan Attack Adds Tension

The confrontation widened further after Iran launched missiles towards US forces stationed at the Al Azraq base in Jordan, according to reports.

Jordan said its air defences intercepted 18 of 20 Iranian missiles, while the remaining projectiles fell in open areas. The development came as Tehran sought to retaliate for the US strikes on its oil carriers.

The exchange marks another expansion of the conflict beyond direct US-Iran naval confrontations.

US Drone Incident Explained

The escalation also coincided with a dispute over an American unmanned underwater vehicle near the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed to have seized a US underwater drone and described it as a sophisticated unmanned submarine. CENTCOM, however, said the device had malfunctioned more than a day earlier while conducting operations in regional waters.

US officials said the drone was an older model that was defective and did not carry sensitive data or classified sonar or radar equipment.

Hormuz Faces New Risks

The latest strikes and counter-threats have increased pressure on commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, already a major flashpoint in the conflict.

With Washington threatening further action against Iranian tankers and Tehran warning vessels near Gulf allies, the risk of additional attacks on energy infrastructure and commercial shipping remains high.

The immediate focus will be on whether Iran launches further attacks against US military assets and whether Washington responds with additional strikes on Iranian oil shipments. Any sustained disruption around Hormuz could also have wider consequences for global energy markets.