WASHINGTON, July 16 (ANI): US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Wednesday that American forces disabled an empty oil tanker traveling toward an Iranian port after the vessel allegedly ignored multiple warnings while attempting to violate a naval blockade imposed on Iran.
In a statement, CENTCOM said US forces enforced naval blockade measures against Iran on July 15 by disabling an unladen oil tanker attempting to sail toward an Iranian port in the Arabian Gulf.
“U.S. forces enforced naval blockade measures against Iran on July 15 by disabling an unladen oil tanker attempting to sail toward an Iranian port in the Arabian Gulf,” CENTCOM said.
According to the US military command, its forces observed the Curacao-flagged M/T Belma transiting through international waters toward Iran’s Kharg Island. The commercial vessel allegedly ignored multiple warnings as it attempted to violate the US blockade.
“A U.S. aircraft disabled the vessel after firing Hellfire missiles into the ship’s smokestack. The ship is no longer transiting to Iran,” CENTCOM said.
The incident comes after the US military resumed naval blockade measures Tuesday against vessels traveling to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas.
CENTCOM said that during the first 24 hours of enforcement, US forces redirected two compliant commercial vessels and disabled one non-compliant vessel.
“U.S. forces remain vigilant and prepared to ensure full compliance,” the statement said.
The development comes amid heightened regional tensions, with the US military increasing maritime enforcement measures involving vessels linked to Iranian ports and coastal areas.
Earlier Wednesday, US forces launched a second wave of strikes against Iran, targeting military capabilities that the United States said were being used to threaten vessels transiting through the Strait of Hormuz.
In a post on X, CENTCOM said the latest strikes were carried out at 3 p.m. ET under the direction of the US commander in chief and marked the second wave of strikes conducted on Wednesday.
“At 3 p.m. ET, U.S. forces launched operations for a second wave of strikes today against Iran. The strikes are targeting Iranian military capabilities used to threaten vessels freely transiting through the Strait of Hormuz, an international waterway vital to global commerce. The U.S. military is holding Iran accountable at the Commander in Chief’s direction,” CENTCOM said.
Following the strikes, Iranian media reported explosions in the southern Iranian cities of Ahvaz and Chabahar. However, it remains unclear whether the explosions were the result of the US strikes.
The latest operation came after CENTCOM completed an earlier round of strikes at 7:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday. (ANI)
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