The United States and Iran on the morning of Saturday, September 5, exchanged attacks in the Persian Gulf region in the latest flare-up of hostilities.
The exchange began when the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched ballistic missiles toward two U.S. Navy warships patrolling regional waters. A U.S. aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer evaded the missiles. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that no American personnel were harmed.
U.S. forces then struck three Iranian crude oil carriers that Central Command identified as part of a shadow network used to generate revenue for the IRGC and its regional proxies. The M/T Downy, located off the coast of Kharg Island, and the M/T Stark 1, located near Jask, were permanently disabled.
In addition, the unladen M/T Kylo, also known as the Noxen, was struck in multiple critical locations in the Gulf of Oman after its crew was directed to abandon ship. CENTCOM described the vessel as completely destroyed and rendered inoperable.
“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,” Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, announced in a statement. “We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet.”
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— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) September 5, 2026
Iranian state-linked media, including Tasnim, reported earlier that four U.S. missiles struck a tanker near the Kharg Island anchorage, Iran’s primary oil export hub. Tasnim cited local sources stating there were no casualties and that the crew was being evacuated
Audio recordings confirmed by CNN showed U.S. military aircraft issuing warnings over an emergency channel prior to the strikes. “Motor Tanker STARK 1, this is the United States military aircraft. I am preparing to fire at your stern. You have 10 minutes to clear the crew from the stern of your ship. Over,” one transmission stated. A subsequent warning instructed the crew to abandon the vessel.
The incident occurred nearly a week after attacks resumed following a period of relative calm. The broader conflict has included repeated disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, strikes on energy infrastructure, and efforts by both sides to impose economic costs. Kharg Island has been a recurring focal point because it handled the large majority of Iran’s crude oil exports before the war.
The United States has maintained its naval blockade of Iranian ports, which was first imposed in April 2026, lifted in June after an interim agreement, and reinstated on July 14. U.S. officials have stated that the Navy can rotate ships to sustain the blockade, which restricts vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas.
Central Command has reported that Iran has exported no oil from its shores since the blockade resumed in mid-July, while U.S. forces have redirected vessels attempting to transit without authorization.
President Donald Trump has stated that additional strikes could be coming in the near future, including strikes targeting hardened nuclear sites like Pickaxe Mountain. “We may hit Pickaxe very soon because if there was anything going on with Pickaxe,” Trump told reporters on Friday.
He added that U.S. intelligence monitors movement at the site and across Iran. “We know everybody that’s moving at Pickaxe. We know everybody that’s moving everywhere all over Iran. And if anything goes bad, we hit them, we hit them hard,” the president added.
