Ash Oro @ashoro.co.uk · 06/09/20262/25 On 5 September, CENTCOM said it had disabled DOWNY and STARK 1 and destroyed the unladen KYLO after Iranian missile attacks on US warships. Its explanation linked the tankers to IRGC funding and presented their loss as economic retaliation. 1100
Ash Oro @ashoro.co.uk · 06/09/20263/25 I need to be very precise here. This is not a published rule saying every sanctioned ship can be sunk. Sanctions, seizure, blockade enforcement and attack are different things. A sanctions designation does not itself authorise a missile strike. 181
Ash Oro @ashoro.co.uk · 06/09/20264/25 Whether a merchant vessel can lawfully be attacked depends on the applicable rules of armed conflict and the facts. “Earns money for Iran” is not a complete legal explanation. Precautions, civilian protection and the grounds for targeting still matter. Screen shots from IHL Policy. 181
