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The United States (US) military has disabled a Panama-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman after its crew ignored warnings and tried to breach a naval blockade against Iran.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Saturday that a US fighter jet struck the vessel, the M/V Ocean Molica, also known as the Arika Sun. According to CENTCOM, the ship had left an Iranian port and attempted to pass through waters covered by the blockade.
“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,” CENTCOM said in a post on X.
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The strike disabled the vessel’s propulsion system but did not injure any crew members. Reuters said it could not immediately reach the ship’s operator for comment. CENTCOM has warned vessels operating in the Gulf of Oman and near the Strait of Hormuz to follow blockade instructions. It also urged mariners to monitor official notices and contact US naval forces when necessary.
The incident follows growing concerns about shipping in the region. The number of vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen to its lowest level in more than two months.
The decline follows a rise in attacks on oil tankers last week. The attacks reached their highest level since the United States and Israel launched the war on Iran in February. The disruption has raised concerns about global oil supplies and pushed crude prices higher. Before the war, the Strait of Hormuz carried about 20 per cent of the world’s oil consumption.
The waterway remains a key route for global energy shipments, so any disruption concerns oil markets and international trade.
