An Iranian crude oil tanker has sunk in the Gulf of Oman after being struck by U.S. forces, according to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). The vessel, M/T Kylo, also known as the Noxen, was one of three Iranian crude oil carriers targeted by U.S. forces on September 5. CENTCOM said the Kylo was struck at multiple critical locations after its crew was ordered to abandon ship. On September 6, CENTCOM released footage showing the vessel engulfed in flames before sinking in the Gulf of Oman.
The incident followed what CENTCOM described as ballistic-missile launches by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) toward two U.S. Navy warships operating in regional waters. According to CENTCOM, the other two vessels targeted were M/T Downy, off the coast of Kharg Island, and M/T Stark 1, near Jask. U.S. officials said the three tankers were linked to an Iranian network that allegedly supports the IRGC and its regional proxies. The U.S. military said no American personnel were injured in the attacks.
For the maritime and energy logistics sector, the sinking adds another vessel-related incident to an already highly sensitive operating environment around the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz. The region is a critical corridor for energy transportation, making developments involving crude oil tankers relevant to vessel operators, cargo owners, insurers and supply-chain planners. The Kylo incident does not by itself establish a broader disruption to commercial shipping, but it underscores the operational and geopolitical risks facing vessels in the region.