The United States military destroyed three Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps crude oil tankers in the Persian Gulf Saturday – as fighting intensifies between the two nations.
US military crew can be heard over radio warning an Iranian oil tanker near Kharg Island, before unleashing a barrage of missiles that lit the vessel in flames.
“You have three minutes to clear the crew,” the US is heard warning in a video obtained by Iran International.
“Get into your lifeboats and abandon the ship immediately.”
Four missiles struck an oil tanker anchored near the island where the Iranian regime exports most of its oil, according to state TV, with two other ships hit in the Gulf of Oman.
US Central Command said the strikes were in retaliation for the IRGC launching ballistic missiles at two US Navy warships patrolling regional waters.
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“The three Iranian crude oil tankers are part of a multibillion-dollar shadow network that funds the IRGC and its regional proxies,” said CENTCOM.
“Let the message to the IRGC be clear: If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost —taking out three of yours,” added Adm. Brad Cooper, the CENTCOM commander.
