The US military says it disabled a commercial cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman after the vessel allegedly ignored warnings and attempted to breach an ongoing naval blockade involving Iran.
According to a statement released by US Central Command (CENTCOM), a US military aircraft carried out a precision strike against the vessel identified as the Panama-flagged M/V Ocean Molica, also known as the “Arika Sun.”
CENTCOM said the strike targeted the stern of the ship and was designed to disable its propulsion systems while avoiding casualties among the crew.
“A US 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 statement posted on X.
The US military stated that the vessel had departed from an Iranian port and was attempting to transit regional waters despite warnings issued by naval forces operating in the area.
Officials said the operation was intended to stop the vessel’s movement while minimizing risks to personnel on board and avoiding broader escalation.
No injuries or fatalities among crew members were reported following the strike.
The Gulf of Oman, which connects the Arabian Sea to the Strait of Hormuz, is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime corridors, handling a significant portion of global energy shipments and commercial shipping traffic.
The incident comes amid continued tensions between the United States and Iran over maritime security, regional military activity, and freedom of navigation in the Gulf region.
Iranian authorities had not immediately commented on the US claims, and independent verification of the circumstances surrounding the vessel’s movement was not immediately available.
The development is likely to draw international attention due to the strategic importance of the waterway and ongoing concerns about shipping security in the Middle East. No injuries or fatalities among crew members were reported following the strike.
The Gulf of Oman, which connects the Arabian Sea to the Strait of Hormuz, is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime corridors, handling a significant portion of global energy shipments and commercial shipping traffic.
The incident comes amid continued tensions between the United States and Iran over maritime security, regional military activity, and freedom of navigation in the Gulf region.
Iranian authorities had not immediately commented on the US claims, and independent verification of the circumstances surrounding the vessel’s movement was not immediately available.
The development is likely to draw international attention due to the strategic importance of the waterway and ongoing concerns about shipping security in the Middle East.
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