TEHRAN — Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday claimed that it launched ballistic missile attacks against two U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers operating in the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz area.
The ships identified by the IRGC were USS Delbert D. Black (DDG-119), a Flight IIA destroyer, and USS John Paul Jones (DDG-53), a Flight I destroyer. Both are equipped with the Aegis combat system and carry cruise missiles.
Iranian state media reported the IRGC Aerospace Force’s claim that the missiles caused significant damage to both destroyers. Iran said the attacks were carried out in retaliation for recent U.S. actions against Iranian oil tankers.
The IRGC also said it targeted eight oil tankers and other vessels that it accused of entering a prohibited or restricted area of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian forces said the waterway remains under the surveillance and management of its naval forces.
However, Iran has not released video, photographs or other independent evidence showing that either U.S. destroyer was hit or damaged. Independent confirmation of the Iranian claim has also not emerged.
CENTCOM Says U.S. Ships Evaded Attacks
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Iranian forces launched ballistic missiles toward a U.S. Navy warship twice over the preceding two days. According to CENTCOM, the ship successfully evaded the attacks, continued its patrol of regional waters and suffered no operational damage. No American personnel were harmed.
CENTCOM has described the recent Iranian missile attacks against U.S. Navy ships as unsuccessful. Its September 5 statement also said an American aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyer evaded multiple Iranian ballistic missile attacks without casualties or damage.
U.S. Strikes Iranian Oil Tankers
The latest exchange followed U.S. strikes on five Iranian crude oil carriers on September 8. CENTCOM identified them as M/T Kaviz, M/T Charminar, M/T Horizon 1 and M/T Riesco in the Gulf of Oman, and M/T Derya near Kharg Island.
CENTCOM said the crews were ordered to abandon the ships before the vessels were struck and rendered inoperable. The U.S. military described the tankers as part of a shadow network used to fund the IRGC and its regional proxies.
This followed a September 5 U.S. operation against three other Iranian crude oil carriers — M/T Downy, M/T Stark 1 and M/T Kylo, also known as Noxen — after the IRGC launched ballistic missiles toward a U.S. aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyer. CENTCOM said those U.S. warships also evaded the attacks without injuries or damage. CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said Iran would face higher economic costs through strikes on its oil fleet.
The latest exchange is part of an ongoing series of Iranian missile attacks, U.S. strikes on Iranian oil vessels and competing claims over military activity around the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman. As of September 9, there is no independent confirmation that USS Delbert D. Black or USS John Paul Jones suffered damage in the reported attack.
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