US Central Command (CENTCOM) says its forces destroyed five Iranian oil tankers carrying crude oil in strikes in the Gulf of Oman and near Iran’s Kharg Island.

According to the US military, the vessels - M/T Kaviz, M/T Charminar, M/T Horizon 1, M/T Riesco and M/T Derya - were part of what CENTCOM described as Iran’s “shadow fleet”, Kommersant.ru reports.

The command said the tanker crews had been warned ahead of the strikes and instructed to abandon the vessels. It remains unclear whether any sailors were injured or killed in the attacks.

CENTCOM described the strikes as a response to actions by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to the US command, the IRGC attempted twice over the previous two days to strike an American military vessel with ballistic missiles.

The US warship reportedly evaded the incoming missiles and continued its patrol, CENTCOM said.