US military claims five Iranian tankers destroyed after naval attack
The US military has released video it says shows five crude oil tankers being destroyed, but the footage and vessel identities have not been independently verified.
The US military says it destroyed five crude oil tankers it identifies as Iranian after an attack on the US Navy, releasing video it says shows the vessels being struck.
The footage includes an infrared image labelled “M/T Riesco” showing apparent damage to a vessel. The supplied material does not establish the video’s date, location or authenticity.
US Central Command previously identified the vessels as Kivik, Charminar, Horizon 1, Riesco and Derya. They were reported in or near the Gulf of Oman, the Strait of Hormuz and Kharg Island, although the material does not independently verify their identities or destruction.
The reported strikes come amid escalating US-Iran hostilities around Gulf shipping. The source material does not establish when the preceding naval attack occurred, who carried it out or whether there were casualties.
Iran’s state news agency had previously reported warnings to tankers in Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports to leave. The available information does not independently confirm the wider claims or establish the consequences of the reported tanker strikes.
