[Discussion] U.S. Warships Evade Iranian Missiles; Three Oil Tankers Struck

U.S. Warships Evade Iranian Missile Attacks

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired multiple ballistic missiles at a U.S. aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyer in Middle Eastern waters on Sept. 5, 2026, according to U.S. Central Command. Both ships evaded the attacks, and no U.S. personnel were wounded.

CENTCOM did not identify the vessels, the number or type of missiles launched, or the defensive measures used. The USS George Washington and USS George H.W. Bush carrier strike groups, along with several independent Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, were operating in the Arabian Sea at the time.

On Sept. 6, the IRGC claimed it had damaged the carrier and destroyer and forced them to leave the engagement area. That account conflicts with CENTCOM’s statement and has not been independently confirmed.

Three Iranian Tankers Struck

U.S. forces responded by attacking three Iranian crude-oil tankers in and around the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM said the M/T Downy, near Kharg Island, and the M/T Stark 1, near Jask, were permanently disabled. The unladen M/T Kylo, also known as Noxen, was destroyed in the Gulf of Oman after its crew was ordered to abandon ship.

Video released by CENTCOM showed the vessels struck by multiple munitions, including a large impact against Kylo’s hull near the waterline. The number of casualties, if any, from the tanker strikes was not clear.

CENTCOM described the tankers as part of a multibillion-dollar “shadow network” supporting the IRGC and its regional partners. “If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost — taking out three of yours,” CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said. He added that U.S. forces would defend American personnel and, if necessary, target Iran’s “limited and exposed oil fleet.”

Iran Claims Further Maritime Attacks

The IRGC Navy subsequently said it attacked three oil tankers traveling through what Tehran called an unauthorized route in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as three U.S.-linked vessels elsewhere. Iran also warned ships against using routes it had not approved.

Tehran separately claimed it struck an unmanned U.S. military vessel attempting to enter the strait. The United States had not immediately confirmed that attack, and the vessel’s identity, the weapon used, and any resulting damage remained unknown.

These claims broaden the confrontation beyond crewed warships to commercial shipping and unmanned systems used for surveillance, reconnaissance, and maritime awareness.

Strait of Hormuz Risks

The Strait of Hormuz carries about one-fifth of the world’s crude oil, while Kharg Island is a major Iranian oil depot. Jask and the approaches to the strait are also positioned along routes where Iranian coastal missiles, aircraft, drones and naval units can affect military and commercial traffic.

An anti-ship ballistic-missile attack requires forces to locate moving vessels, maintain an accurate track and update targeting information as ships change course and speed. Carrier protection also relies on the wider strike group: guided-missile destroyers provide radar coverage, missile defense, electronic warfare and offensive strike capacity, while carrier aircraft can extend surveillance and intercept airborne threats.

Earlier Operations in the Waterway

The tanker strikes marked an expansion of U.S. action against Iranian maritime assets. After imposing a blockade of the strait in April and reinstating it in July, U.S. forces had primarily redirected shipping and fired on vessels attempting to pass through. American forces later fired on two Iranian tankers during wider strikes on Sept. 1.

On Aug. 30, U.S. forces struck Larak Island, saying IRGC launchers were preparing to deploy mines. CENTCOM had reported clearing mines from shipping lanes two days earlier. Iran then launched missiles and one-way attack drones at U.S. bases in the Middle East.

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