US strike hits three Iranian tankers

The US military on Saturday said it struck three Iranian oil tankers after Navy warships were targeted with missiles, warning that it would "if necessary, destroy Iran's limited and exposed oil fleet."

US Central Command released footage it said showed the sinking of the M/T Kylo tanker after it was struck in the Gulf of Oman.

The strikes - a day after President Donald Trump sought to minimize the conflict as "small potatoes" - keep up a new tilt back toward fighting after six months of on-again, off-again war that began with US and Israeli attacks on February 28.

Both sides have sought to inflict both military and economic pain, and negotiations have collapsed.

The military's statement said a US aircraft carrier and a destroyer evaded "multiple unprovoked Iranian attacks" while patrolling in the region and no US personnel were hurt.

It said two Iranian oil carriers were "permanently disabled" and the third, unladen one - the M/T Kylo - was destroyed.

The US statement said the tankers were part of a shadow network helping to fund Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard and its armed proxies in the region.

Earlier, Iranian state TV had said four US missiles struck a tanker about six miles (10 kilometers) from Kharg Island, home to a terminal through which the country exports most of its oil.

Kharg Island been repeatedly targeted during the war, including US strikes on military sites there in March.