U.S. Destroys 5 Iranian Oil Tankers After IRGC Targets American Warship With Ballistic Missiles

The US Central Command forces have destroyed five Iranian oil tankers on Tuesday (Sept 8, 2026).

The attack comes after Iran targeted a US Navy warship in two separate attacks over two days.

The American warship avoided both missile attacks and remained on patrol in regional waters. CENTCOM said no U.S. personnel were injured.

The four targeted vessels were M/T Charminar, M/T Kaviz, M/T Horizon 1, and M/T Riesco.

Before the strikes, U.S. forces instructed the crews to leave the tankers, CENTCOM said. The vessels were left inoperable after being struck.

The operation followed similar U.S. action on Sept. 5, when CENTCOM forces destroyed three Iranian oil tankers after the IRGC attempted to attack a U.S. aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer.

CENTCOM said none of the IRGC’s attempts to strike U.S. Navy warships had succeeded.

According to the U.S. military, the five tankers were linked to a multibillion-dollar network that provides funding for the IRGC and its regional proxies. CENTCOM also said Iran was unable to defend the vessels.

CENTCOM forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers, Sept. 8, after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted a U.S. Navy warship with ballistic missiles twice over the past two days. The U.S. warship successfully evaded the attempted Iranian attacks and… pic.twitter.com/Gi8a2tloN1

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) September 8, 2026

After the tanker strikes, Iran fired ballistic missiles at Jordan and told tanker crews near ports and piers in Kuwait and Bahrain to leave their ships, Iranian state television reported.

The Armed Forces of Jordan said air defences shot down 18 of the 20 missiles fired towards the country. Two others landed in areas with no population.

No casualties were reported. Jordanian authorities said specialist teams were working at the sites where the missiles landed to secure missile fragments and other debris.

Ali Abdollahi, the chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces had previously said Tehran would target U.S. military facilities across the region if Iranian tankers came under attack.

Oil prices rose following the strikes near Kharg Island, an important Iranian crude-export hub. Brent crude moved close to $100 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate traded near $95.

Reference: US Centcom