The US military on Wednesday said it had “destroyed” 10 Iranian tankers in just the last week.

“These vessels were part of a multibillion-dollar shadow network that funds the IRGC, and Iran cannot defend them,” U.S. Central Command wrote on X.

On the other hand, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it struck two U.S. Navy destroyers operating in the Middle East.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) disputed Iran’s claim that it successfully struck the two American warships.

“Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces have claimed they struck two U.S. Navy destroyers operating in the Middle East. This is completely FALSE,” CENTCOM wrote online early Wednesday. “No U.S. Navy warship has been struck; all IRGC attempted attacks failed.”

Meanwhile, the U.S. Central Command said Thursday that American forces have “redirected 96 commercial vessels to ensure total compliance” with the ongoing blockade of Iranian ports.

The announcement was made as CENTCOM released a photo of a U.S. Navy MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter launching from the flight deck of the USS Rafael Peralta while enforcing the blockade.

“More than 50 vessels supporting humanitarian aid have been allowed to pass,” CENTCOM also said.

The latest statement follows a series of escalating maritime confrontations between Washington and Tehran in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

CENTCOM said on Tuesday that US forces had destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers after the IRGC launched two ballistic-missile attacks against a US Navy warship over the previous two days. The US warship evaded both attacks and continued to patrol regional waters, according to CENTCOM.

The US command said crews had been directed to abandon the ships before they were struck.

CENTCOM also said that on September 5, US forces destroyed three additional Iranian crude oil carriers after the IRGC attempted to attack a US aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer.

Iran, meanwhile, has claimed that its forces targeted several US vessels in retaliation for the American attacks on Iranian oil tankers.