US Military Says It Disabled Cargo Vessel Attempting to Breach Iran Blockade

CENTCOM

Ship and helicopter at the Straight of Hormuz.

The US military said on Sunday that it had disabled a commercial cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman after its crew ignored warnings and attempted to breach a naval blockade against Iran.

"A U.S. military fighter jet struck the stern of Panama-flagged M/V Ocean ⁠Molica (also known as the “Arika Sun”) with a precision munition, fully disabling the ship’s propulsion without harming the crew," the US Central Command posted on X.

CENTCOM said the cargo vessel had attempted to transit regional waters after leaving an Iranian port.

CENTCOM warned mariners in ‌the ⁠Gulf of Oman and the approaches to the Strait of Hormuz to heed blockade warnings, monitor notice-to-mariners broadcasts and contact US naval forces.

The number of vessels transiting the vital Strait of Hormuz fell to its lowest level in more than two months after tanker attacks reached their highest frequency last week since the US and Israel launched the war on Iran in February. The decline has raised concerns about shipping disruptions and supported crude oil prices.

Before the war, the Strait of Hormuz carried around 20% of global oil consumption.



PUKMEDIA