Illustrative image. (U.S. Central Command)
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on June 8 that its forces had disabled an unladen oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman.
In a statement, the command said that the tanker, the Palau-flagged Marivex, violated the ongoing blockade against Iran by attempting to sail to an Iranian port.
An F/A-18 Super Hornet from USS Abraham Lincoln fired a “precision munition” into the Marivex’s engineering and steering spaces after the crew failed to comply with directions from U.S. forces, the command added, noting that the tanker is no longer sailing to Iran.
“CENTCOM forces have disabled seven non-compliant vessels, redirected 134 ships that complied, and allowed 42 vessels supporting humanitarian aid to pass since initiating the blockade on April 13,” it concluded.
The strike was first reported by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which said in an advisory notice that the tanker caught fire, and that its crew were forced to evacuate.
Videos showing the aftermath of the strike surfaced online later. Notably, a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock can be seen sailing next to the Marivex in one of the videos.
U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the blockade on Iranian ports just four days after the ceasefire went into effect, in response to the Islamic Republic’s restriction on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz — a checkpoint for around 20 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
Iran has warned more than once in recent weeks that it would respond to U.S. attacks on vessels heading to its ports. The Islamic Republic has already hit back more than once, not only by attacking vessels it deemed in violation of its measures in the waterway, but also by targeting U.S. warships. It has even renewed strikes on bases hosting U.S. forces in neighboring Gulf states.
Given the high tensions, Iran’s response will likely come within hours, not days. With the recent exchange of strikes with Israel, war could resume at any moment.
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