The U.S. military confirmed that it attacked three Iranian oil tankers in response to missile strikes by Iran on two U.S. Navy vessels. According to the U.S. Central Command (Centcom), the attacks occurred on Saturday, with one in the Persian Gulf and two in the Gulf of Oman. The military said it permanently disabled two of the tankers and completely destroyed a third. These tankers were reportedly part of a network that supports Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a powerful military and political group within Iran. A U.S. aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyer reportedly avoided multiple attacks by the IRGC, with no U.S. personnel injured. The three tankers struck were the M/T Downy off the coast of Kharg Island, the M/T Stark 1 near Jask, and the M/T Kylo near the Gulf of Oman. The Kylo was empty at the time, and its crew was ordered to abandon the ship before it was hit in multiple locations. Iranian state media reported that a tanker near Kharg Island had been struck by U.S. missiles, though no casualties were reported. Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of Centcom, said in a statement that the U.S. would "impose an even higher economic cost — taking out three of yours" in response to the attacks on two U.S. ships. He added that the U.S. would not hesitate to defend its forces and destroy Iran's "limited and exposed oil fleet." This statement reflects the U.S. stance of maintaining a strong military presence in the region and deterring further aggression. The incident follows a series of escalating military actions between the U.S. and Iran, including U.S. strikes on Iranian targets and Iranian attacks on U.S. bases and allies in the Middle East. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for global oil, has disrupted energy supplies and increased fuel costs for U.S. consumers. President Donald Trump referred to the situation as a "military conflict," though he described it as "small potatoes" for the U.S., indicating that the country is not overly concerned about the scale of the conflict.