US disables ship attempting to run Iran blockade in Gulf of Oman

United States forces struck a commercial cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman after its crew ignored repeated warnings and attempted to bypass an Iranian naval blockade, according to Central Command (CENTCOM).

A US military fighter jet struck the stern of the Panama-flagged M/V Ocean Molica, also known as the Arika Sun, with a precision munition on Saturday, fully disabling the ship’s propulsion without harming the crew, CENTCOM stated.

The vessel was attempting to transit regional waters after having previously departed an Iranian port, according to CENTCOM. The agency said its forces resumed a blockade against all ships entering or departing Iranian ports on July 14, disabling four commercial vessels and turning around 135 ships during three months of strict enforcement.

In addition, US forces destroyed 10 tankers linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) multibillion-dollar shadow network over the same period, CENTCOM said.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency acknowledged the incident, stating it had received a report of an incident involving a tanker and military forces in the Gulf of Oman and that authorities were investigating.

Meanwhile, the IRGC claimed it struck a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz for attempting to take an illegal route, as Tehran seeks to enforce its own blockade on the vital waterway. The agency said Iranian forces had taken control of the administration of the strait.