US strikes 3 Iranian oil tankers in retaliation for targeting warships

U.S. forces "permanently disabled" two Iranian oil tankers and "completely destroyed" another after Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps launched ballistic missiles toward an American aircraft carrier and destroyer, U.S. Central Command said in a statement Saturday morning.

Neither of the U.S. ships were hit and no servicemembers were injured, CENTCOM said, though the fact that an aircraft carrier was apparently targeted is a notable provocation.

"The three Iranian crude oil tankers are part of a multibillion-dollar shadow network that funds the IRGC and its regional proxies. Iran has no means by which to defend them," CENTCOM said in a statement.

"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. "We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet."

-ABC News' Benjamin Siu and Luis MartinezShow Less