U.S. forces strike five Iranian oil tankers near Hark Island

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that five Iranian crude oil tankers were struck and rendered unusable in the Gulf of Oman. The targeted vessels include the M/T Kaviz, M/T Charminar, M/T Horizon 1, M/T Riesco, and the M/T Derya near Hark Island. CENTCOM stated these tankers were part of a “billion-dollar network” used to finance the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its regional proxies. Crews were reportedly instructed to evacuate before the strikes, and no U.S. personnel were harmed.

Following these actions, multiple explosions were heard near the port area of Hark Island, a critical hub responsible for approximately 90-95% of Iran’s crude oil exports. While Iranian media confirmed that two tankers were targeted near the town of Cask and that crews were evacuated via small boats, official Iranian authorities have not yet released details regarding the cause of the explosions or any potential casualties.

The escalation follows recent maritime friction, including the seizure of a U.S. unmanned underwater vehicle by the Revolutionary Guard and previous attempts by Iranian forces to target U.S. Navy warships with ballistic missiles.