US and Iran trade strikes on oil tankers in escalating conflict.

US Central Command confirmed Saturday it struck three Iranian crude oil tankers after the IRGC launched ballistic missiles at a US aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyer. Both warships evaded the missiles; no Americans were hurt.

• 2 tankers — M/T Downy and M/T Stark 1 — were permanently disabled near Kharg Island and Jask.
• A third vessel, M/T Kylo, was completely destroyed in the Gulf of Oman after crew abandoned ship.
• 4 missiles struck the Stark 1, per Iranian state media; audio of US warnings to the crew was confirmed.
• Kharg Island handles roughly 90% of Iran's crude oil exports.

Why it matters: CENTCOM described the three tankers as part of a multibillion-dollar shadow network funding the IRGC and its regional proxies.

• Control of the Strait of Hormuz — critical for global oil supplies — is the central military flashpoint.
• The US and Israel launched the initial strikes on Iran on February 28; Iran responded by effectively closing the strait.

How 76 sources split on this story

Where they split: Coverage does not dispute the core facts; the contested framing is whether US strikes constitute defensive retaliation or escalation of a broader war both sides define differently.

What’s next: Iran had not publicly responded as of the latest reporting Saturday.

• US Vice President JD Vance said Thursday the conflict should not be called a 'war.'
• Will Iran launch retaliatory strikes against US allies or Gulf oil infrastructure?
• How much of Iran's remaining tanker fleet can CENTCOM locate and target?
• Does the loss of these vessels meaningfully reduce IRGC funding, or can the network adapt?