US hits 3 Iranian oil tankers after saying its warships were targeted

The US military says it has hit three Iran-linked oil tankers after ballistic missiles were launched towards two of its warships in the region.US Central Command (Centcom) said on Saturday it had “permanently disabled” a tanker near Kharg Island and another near the Strait of Hormuz, and “completely destroyed” a third in the Gulf of Oman.Centcom said it “successfully evaded” multiple attacks from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeting a US aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyer. No American troops were harmed, it said in a statement.Iranian state media earlier reported that one of its oil tankers had been struck by US missiles off the coast of Kharg Island.”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,” said Admiral Brad Cooper, Centcom’s commander. “We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet.”