U.S., Iranian forces fire at vessels in waters near Iran

DUBAI, Sept 5 (Reuters) – U.S. ​and Iranian forces fired at vessels in waters around Iran on Saturday, including three Iranian oil carriers struck by Americans and three tankers that Iran said it targeted while on unauthorized routes in the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. Central Command said it struck the three Iranian vessels, including one off the coast of Kharg Island, near Iran’s oil export hub, after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched ballistic missiles at two U.S. Navy ships.

“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 Admiral Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, which oversees the U.S. military in the Middle East.