Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced early Sunday that its Aerospace Force launched ballistic missiles targeting a US aircraft carrier and a navy destroyer, claiming both vessels sustained damage and subsequently withdrew from the engagement area.
The IRGC stated via the IRNA news agency that the operation was conducted in response to the US military's maritime blockade and the harassment of Iranian vessels. The Guard cited prior statements from US Central Command (CENTCOM) as confirmation that its warships were targeted, warning that continued US military action would draw significantly harsher responses. The announcement follows a separate IRGC Navy statement confirming strikes on three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz alongside three US-linked vessels elsewhere.
Disputed Claims and US Retaliation
US Central Command directly refuted the IRGC's claims of damage, confirming that while ballistic missiles were launched toward two US Navy warships patrolling regional waters, both vessels successfully evaded the strikes with no American personnel injured.
In direct retaliation for the missile attack, US forces launched strikes that permanently disabled two Iranian crude oil carriers—the M/T Downy off Kharg Island and the M/T Stark 1 near Jask—and completely destroyed an unladen tanker, the M/T Kylo, in the Gulf of Oman. CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper stated that the US military targeted the vessels to impose a high economic cost on the IRGC's funding networks, warning that further attacks on US ships would lead to the destruction of Iran's oil fleet.
The exchange marks an escalation in ongoing hostilities between the US, Israel, and Iran that have persisted since February.
