Fighter jet hits cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman
TAMPA: The US disables vessel Iran blockade campaign took a new turn on Saturday when an American fighter jet crippled a commercial cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Sunday.
CENTCOM said the Panama-flagged M/V Ocean Molica, also known as the “Arika Sun”, ignored repeated warnings and attempted to run the naval blockade against Iran. A fighter jet fired a precision munition at the stern of the ship, disabling its propulsion without harming the crew.
The command posted on X that the vessel was “attempting to transit regional waters after having previously departed an Iranian port”. It warned mariners in the Gulf of Oman and near the Strait of Hormuz to obey blockade warnings and monitor notices to mariners.
The attack on Riyadh airport earlier this week, in a war now past its seventh month, showed how the fighting between the US, Israel and Iran has pulled Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthis deeper into the conflict, and the Saudi-led coalition has vowed a decisive response.
CENTCOM’s tally: four ships hit as US disables vessel Iran blockade patrols widen
CENTCOM said it resumed the blockade against all ships entering or departing Iranian ports on July 14. According to its own tally, it has now disabled four commercial vessels and turned around 135 ships that attempted to breach it.
The command also stated that US forces had destroyed 10 tankers linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ “multibillion-dollar shadow network” over the same period. The US accuses Iran of using the shadow fleet to keep oil revenues flowing despite sanctions and the blockade.
Washington has stationed more than 15 warships, including two aircraft carriers and an amphibious assault ship, in the Arabian Sea to enforce the blockade.
Trump warns Iran may act before midterms
President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Iran may step up its actions ahead of the US midterm elections on November 3, arguing that Tehran believes doing so would hurt the United States.
“They’ll probably do a little bit extra before the election, thinking it’s going to hurt us,” Trump told a campaign rally in Tennessee. “But we could end it really quick.”
Trump claimed he had shown restraint towards Iran despite what he described as the destruction of the Iranian navy. He asserted that 159 Iranian ships had been sunk since late February, when the war began.
The president also mused about the flashpoint Strait of Hormuz. “We’re thinking about renaming it to the Trump Strait,” he said.
Trump has previously said the war with Iran might end shortly after the November 3 congressional elections, in which the conflict has emerged as a key issue. He is not running in the midterms but is campaigning for fellow Republicans.
Wider war enters its eighth month
The US and Israel launched the war against Iran on February 28, prompting Tehran to respond with missile and drone attacks across the region. The fighting effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s traded oil once flowed, and commercial traffic through the waterway has effectively halted.
A June framework agreement mediated by Pakistan and Qatar has stalled amid disagreements over security and navigation in the strait.
On Sunday, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency said a tanker caught fire after being struck by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz. The crew was reported safe.
The IRGC claimed hours earlier that an oil supertanker capable of carrying around two million barrels struck a naval mine while leaving the strait through what it called an unauthorised southern route, with its navigation systems switched off.
FAQ
Which vessel did the US disable?
The M/V Ocean Molica, a Panama-flagged commercial cargo vessel also known as the “Arika Sun”. A US fighter jet disabled its propulsion in the Gulf of Oman on October 10 after its crew ignored repeated warnings.
How many ships has CENTCOM disabled during the Iran blockade?
According to CENTCOM, four commercial vessels have been disabled and 135 ships turned around since the blockade was resumed on July 14. It also says US forces destroyed 10 tankers linked to the IRGC’s shadow network.
When did the US resume the naval blockade on Iran?
CENTCOM resumed the blockade against all ships entering or departing Iranian ports on July 14. It covers the Gulf of Oman and the approaches to the Strait of Hormuz.
Is there a ceasefire between the US and Iran?
No. A framework agreement signed in June after Pakistan and Qatar mediated has stalled, and fighting has continued for more than seven months since the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28.
