US military says it disabled cargo vessel trying to run Iran blockade
USO•The US military said it disabled a commercial cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman after its crew ignored warnings and attempted to run a naval blockade against Iran. The ship’s propulsion was disabled without harm to its crew.
1. Vessel disabled
The US military said a fighter jet struck the stern of the Panama-flagged M/V Ocean Molica, also known as the Arika Sun, with a precision munition, disabling its propulsion without harming the crew. CENTCOM said the vessel had left an Iranian port and attempted to transit regional waters.
2. Shipping disruption
CENTCOM warned mariners in the Gulf of Oman and approaches to the Strait of Hormuz to heed blockade warnings and contact US naval forces. Vessel transits through the strait fell to their lowest level in more than two months after tanker attacks reached their highest level last week since the US and Israel launched the war on Iran in February, raising concerns over shipping disruptions and supporting crude prices. Before the war, the strait carried 20% of the world’s oil consumption.
