US Central Command destroys three IRGC crude oil tankers in Gulf operations
- U.S. Central Command permanently disabled IRGC crude oil carriers M/T Downy off Kharg Island and M/T Stark 1 near Jask
- The unladen crude oil carrier M/T Kylo, also known as the 'Noxen', was completely destroyed in the Gulf of Oman after its crew was directed to abandon ship
- M/T Kylo was struck in multiple critical locations before being destroyed
- U.S. Central Command described the three tankers as part of a multibillion-dollar shadow network funding the IRGC and its regional proxies

*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
U.S. Central Command permanently disabled two Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps crude oil carriers and completely destroyed a third, targeting what it described as a multibillion-dollar shadow network funding the IRGC and its regional proxies.
Operations against IRGC tankers
The military action targeted three vessels linked to the IRGC. The following table summarises the operations carried out against each tanker:
| Vessel | Action taken | Location |
|---|---|---|
| M/T Downy | Permanently disabled | Off Kharg Island |
| M/T Stark 1 | Permanently disabled | Near Jask |
| M/T Kylo (also known as 'Noxen') | Completely destroyed | Gulf of Oman |
Details of the strike on M/T Kylo
The M/T Kylo, also known as the Noxen, was an unladen crude oil carrier struck in multiple critical locations. Before the vessel was destroyed, the crew was directed to abandon ship. U.S. Central Command described the operation as targeting a key component of the IRGC's logistics infrastructure.
Shadow network funding the IRGC
U.S. Central Command characterised the three tankers as part of a multibillion-dollar shadow network that funds the IRGC and its regional proxies. The military framed the strikes as an effort to disrupt this financing structure by neutralising vessels integral to the network's crude oil transport operations.
How might the disruption of the IRGC's shadow oil network impact global crude oil supply chains and prices in the short term?
What retaliatory measures could Iran or its regional proxies take in response to these strikes, and how might they affect regional stability?
Will this military action lead to expanded sanctions or new legislative measures targeting entities involved in Iran's illicit oil trade?

























