US Navy Disables Ship in Gulf
Central Command confirmed the strike after the vessel ignored warnings near the Strait of Hormuz.
By Martin Reynolds ·
Two tankers caught fire after hitting mines in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Iranian military late Saturday. The explosions occurred in the same waterway where U.S. forces disabled a St. Kitts-flagged commercial vessel earlier in the day.
U.S. Central Command stated that the ship ignored multiple warnings before attempting to leave the region. The vessel had recently visited an Iranian port. This is the latest confirmed U.S. strike on a cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman, following the previous incident nearly a month ago.
The military has enforced a naval blockade around the Strait of Hormuz for months. The waterway is a key route for global oil shipping. The blockade has been in effect since the war began more than eight months ago.
The most recent U.S. strike on a commercial ship happened in the Gulf of Oman. That incident occurred nearly a month before Saturday’s action. Central Command confirmed the new strike late Saturday after the ship breached the blockade line.
President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday that U.S. forces carried out new limited strikes against Iran. He described the action as minor and said the targets included an Iranian air defense system. Central Command did not comment on those Friday strikes immediately after Trump’s announcement.
For weeks, Trump indicated he was considering a new wave of strikes after the U.S. midterm elections held on Nov. 3. The Middle East has been on edge about the prospect of resumed full-scale operations. The last major U.S. operations against Iran occurred almost two months ago.
Iran state media reported explosions on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz and in the port of Jask on Saturday evening. The Iranian military said two tankers hit mines and caught fire in the area. It did not identify the flags or destinations of the tankers. U.S. forces did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the island and port explosions.
October marked the most attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz since March. Iran has increased economic pressure on the U.S. to force it to lift the blockade. Diplomacy to end the war has stalled while global markets remain rattled by the conflict.
