United States forces have reportedly disabled a commercial cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman after its crew allegedly ignored repeated warnings and attempted to bypass an ongoing naval blockade targeting Iran, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM). The escalation highlights mounting friction across vital Middle Eastern maritime corridors.

CENTCOM stated that 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-guided munition. The strike purportedly disabled the ship's propulsion entirely while leaving the crew unharmed. The vessel was reportedly transiting regional waters after previously departing from an Iranian port.

The US regime's military command asserted that enforcement of the blockade against all vessels entering or departing Iranian ports has resulted in four commercial ships being disabled and approximately 135 vessels turned around over three months of strict operations. Furthermore, officials claimed that ten tankers linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shadow network were destroyed during the same timeframe.

In response, the Iranian government claimed its forces struck a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz for taking an unauthorized route, as Tehran attempts to enforce its own restrictions on the critical waterway. Amid ongoing hostilities involving the US and Israel, shipping traffic through the strait faces severe disruptions, threatening global liquefied natural gas and oil transit.

Source: www.aljazeera.com