The United States military has said it struck and destroyed three crude oil tankers linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) after Iranian forces fired on American warships.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes followed what it described as failed Iranian attacks against two US Navy vessels.

According to CENTCOM, US forces permanently disabled the M/T Downy off the coast of Kharg Island and the M/T Stark 1 near Jask.

It said American forces also destroyed the unladen crude oil carrier M/T Kylo, also known as Noxen, in the Gulf of Oman after its crew was ordered to abandon the vessel.

CENTCOM said the Kylo was struck at multiple critical points to render it inoperable.

The command said the targeted vessels were part of what it described as a “multibillion-dollar shadow network” used to finance the IRGC and its regional proxies.

CENTCOM commander, Admiral Brad Cooper, said the US action was intended to impose a greater economic cost on Iran following the attacks on American ships.

The US military said no American personnel were injured and that the targeted US warships successfully evaded the Iranian attacks.

The latest strikes represent a further escalation in the confrontation between Washington and Tehran, with maritime security and oil supplies becoming increasingly central to the conflict.