US destroys five Iranian oil tankers after IRGC missile attack on warships
Strikes on tankers near Kharg Island and Jask mark the sharpest escalation in the tanker war, with Hormuz traffic falling to seven vessels Monday and Brent touching $99.46.
Quick summary
The United States destroyed five Iranian crude oil tankers on Tuesday after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched ballistic missiles at two American warships, according to U.S. Central Command and Iranian state media. U.S. forces struck tankers near Kharg Island and the port of Jask, with CENTCOM stating the vessels were tied to the IRGC and targeted in response to the warship attacks. Iran's Revolutionary Guard said it retaliated by targeting three oil tankers using what Tehran called an unauthorized route through the Strait of Hormuz and three U.S.-linked vessels elsewhere, and warned other vessels they will be targeted if they follow the same route. Only seven commodity vessels transited Hormuz on Monday, down from eight on Sunday, and Brent crude briefly reached $99.46 per barrel on Tuesday, its highest level since July 24, as the tanker war intensified.
Key points
- U.S. Central Command confirmed striking five Iranian crude oil tankers after IRGC ballistic-missile attacks on two U.S. Navy warships.
- Named vessels include the M/T Downy off Kharg Island and M/T Stark 1 near Jask, which were permanently disabled, and the M/T Kylo in the Gulf of Oman, which was completely destroyed.
- Iran's Revolutionary Guard said it targeted three tankers using an unauthorized Hormuz route and three U.S.-affiliated vessels elsewhere, and warned other ships will be targeted.
- Only seven commodity vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, compared with eight on Sunday, maintaining the collapse in traffic to levels not seen since May.
- Brent crude touched $99.46 per barrel on Tuesday, the highest since July 24, as tanker strikes and transit fears drove oil prices higher.
How it unfolded
- New
War begins
The US and Israel launch Operation Epic Fury. Ali Khamenei is killed in the opening strikes.
- Changed
Ceasefire reached, then collapses
The first attempt to halt the fighting does not hold.
- Changed
Second attempt fails
A new memorandum of understanding fails to produce a lasting halt to the conflict.
- New
Operation Economic Outcast
Washington targets more than 60 Iran-linked entities with new sanctions.
- New
Hormuz corridor proposed
Iran and Oman propose a temporary shipping corridor through the strait, as Qatar also pursues mediation.
- ChangedContested
Strait declared cleared
CENTCOM announces that Iranian-placed mines have been cleared from the Strait of Hormuz.
- New
US strike on Larak Island
US forces strike two IRGC rocket-launcher positions, saying they posed an imminent threat to shipping.
- New
Iran responds
The IRGC confirms casualties, condemns the attack and promises retaliation.
- NewContested
New escalation
Iran launches retaliatory missiles and drones toward US bases in Jordan and the UAE. Jordan reports intercepting eight missiles.
- New
Economic impact
Brent crude rises above $90 as markets react to renewed escalation.
- New
Iran appeals for interim deal compliance
Iran urges the US to comply with what it describes as an interim deal, while Trump threatens further strikes.
- New
US launches new strikes near Hormuz
The United States launches a new barrage of airstrikes on Iranian targets around the Strait of Hormuz.
- New
Brent crude hits intraday high near $99
Brent surged to about $99.38 per barrel before settling in the $95–$97 range as markets priced in heightened supply risk.
- New
Iran strikes Kuwait
Iran launched missiles and drones at Kuwait, expanding Operation Punishment of the Aggressor.
- New
US carries out second round of strikes
The United States hit Iranian radar, missile and mine-laying infrastructure in a second wave in three days.
- New
Hormuz transits fall to single digits
Tanker flows through the strait dropped to as few as six vessels on recent days, versus a rolling average near 13.
- New
U.S. strikes Iranian tankers off Kharg Island
U.S. forces struck three Iranian oil tankers off Kharg Island in response to earlier Revolutionary Guard attacks on U.S. warships.
- New
Iran attacks tankers for using unauthorized route
Iran said its forces targeted three oil tankers using an unauthorized route in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as three U.S.-linked vessels elsewhere.
- New
Hormuz traffic collapses to 10-day average of 10 vessels
Commodity vessel transits averaged 10 per day over 10 days, the lowest since May. Only two transited on Saturday and six on Sunday.
- New
No VLCC has exited Hormuz since Wednesday
No very large crude carrier has left the strait since Wednesday, reflecting intensified security risks.
- New
Brent touches six-week high near $98
Brent crude settled around $97.31 after an intraday high of about $98.06. Brent rose roughly 8% over the prior week and WTI nearly 10%.
- New
U.S. destroys five Iranian oil tankers
U.S. forces struck five Iranian crude oil tankers near Kharg Island and Jask after IRGC ballistic-missile attacks on two U.S. warships. Named vessels include M/T Downy and M/T Stark 1 (permanently disabled) and M/T Kylo (completely destroyed).
- New
Iran retaliates, warns ships using unauthorized Hormuz route
Iran's IRGC said it targeted three tankers using an unauthorized route through Hormuz and three U.S.-linked vessels elsewhere, warning other vessels they will be targeted if they follow the same route.
- New
Hormuz traffic falls to seven vessels Monday
Only seven commodity vessels transited the strait on Monday, compared with eight on Sunday, sustaining the near-freeze in tanker flows.
- New
Brent touches $99.46, highest since July 24
Brent crude briefly reached $99.46 per barrel on Tuesday as tanker strikes and Hormuz transit risks intensified.
US–Israel war with Iran
- US strike on Larak Island triggers Iranian retaliation
- Trump threatens further strikes as Iran appeals for compliance with interim deal
- US launches new strikes around Strait of Hormuz; Iran expands retaliation beyond Jordan
- Brent crude hits intraday high near $99, settles around $96–$97 as Iran strikes expand to Kuwait
- Hormuz shipping collapses to lowest since May as US, Iran engage in tanker war
- Brent crude breaks $100 as US strikes five more Iranian tankers and Hormuz traffic falls to six vessels
- Brent crude surges to $105.26 as Iran claims attack on 10 vessels near Hormuz
- Hormuz shipping traffic collapses to seven vessels as oil prices hold above $100
- Brent crude breaks $108 as new strikes hit Iranian ship and Saudi pipeline
- Hormuz traffic collapses to four vessels as Brent holds above $107
- Brent jumps to $108–$109 as Saudi East–West pipeline shut down
- Brent retreats below $105 as Aramco targets partial pipeline restart within days
- Saudi Aramco suspends crude deliveries to India as pipeline repairs begin
Sources analysed
8 outlets in the analysed roster.
- The Deep Draft — Tanker Turnback Confirms Strait Transit Risk (September 8, 2026)
- The Deep Draft — DeepDraft SITREP | Hormuz UUV Seizure Meets Tanker-Strike Escalation (September 9, 2026)
- The New York Times — U.S. Strikes Iranian Oil Tankers, Drawing Threat of Reprisal
- Daily Finland — US attacks 3 oil tankers off Iranian coasts, Iran hits 3 oilers in Hormuz
- The Nation (Thailand) — Iran energy threats lift oil prices to six-week highs
- International Business Times Singapore — Brent Nears $97 as Hormuz Supply Risks Grow
- The Rio Times — Oil Tops US$98 as Tanker War Chokes Hormuz Traffic
- KRDO / CNN — US targets multiple Iranian tankers near Kharg Island