U.S. Strikes Cargo Ship for Trying to Breach Iran Blockade

A U.S. fighter jet struck the cargo ship M/V Ocean Molica, also known as Arika Sun, in the Gulf of Oman on October 10.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported this.

The strike followed the vessel’s crew ignoring repeated warnings and attempting to breach Iran’s maritime blockade.

According to CENTCOM, a U.S. combat aircraft used precision-guided munitions to strike the stern of the Panama-flagged vessel. The strike completely disabled the ship’s propulsion system, while the crew remained unharmed. Before the strike, the vessel had departed an Iranian port and was continuing to sail through regional waters.

The United States reinstated the maritime blockade of Iranian ports in July. It applies to vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports, while other commercial traffic in the region is expected to continue moving.

As of October 10, U.S. forces had disabled four commercial vessels and forced 135 ships to change course during the current phase of the blockade, according to CENTCOM.

In addition, during this period, the United States said it had destroyed ten tankers linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ shadow fleet.

On May 29, U.S. forces struck the engine room of the Gambian-flagged vessel Lian Star with a Hellfire missile after issuing the crew more than 20 warnings.

On April 13, the United States imposed a full maritime blockade on shipping to and from Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman for the first time.

In August, after the operation resumed, the United States reported further tightening of controls on maritime traffic: 53 commercial vessels were redirected, and two more were disabled in less than a month.