WaPo (“U.S. says it hit 3 Iranian oil tankers, including one near Kharg Island“):
The U.S. military said Saturday it hit three Iranian oil tankers, including one near Kharg Island, the country’s main oil terminal.
U.S. Central Command, which oversees operations in the region, said in a statement that its strikes disabled an oil carrier off the coast of Kharg Island and another off Jask, and it destroyed a third one in the Gulf of Oman.
Centcom said the strikes were in response to Iranian attacks on U.S. Navy warships.
“Let the message to the IRGC be clear: If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost — taking out three of yours,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, Centcom commander, referring to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. “We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet.”
One might be inclined to wonder: What is the virtue of a proportional response? Unless we’re going to blow Kharg Island to smithereens again, it seems to be the only available option.
Alas, the move’s strategic value is unclear. How does this get us closer to resolving the conflict on our terms?
