American forces disabled another cargo vessel allegedly attempting to violate the United States blockade against Iranian ports, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
A U.S. fighter jet struck the stern of the Panama-flagged M/V Ocean Molica (“Arika Sun”) on Saturday while it was transiting in the Gulf of Oman.
“U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces disabled a commercial cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman, Oct. 10, after the ship’s crew ignored repeated warnings and attempted to run the ongoing naval blockade against Iran,” the command posted to social media on Saturday.
According to CENTCOM, the vessel was struck “with a precision munition, fully disabling the ship’s propulsion without harming the crew.” Video footage provided by the command showed flames erupting in an explosion as the ship was struck.
The vessel was alleged to have departed from an Iranian port.
Since CENTCOM resumed its blockade against Iranian ports on July 14th, American forces have disabled four ships and turned 135 around.
Additionally, the command stated that during the same period, U.S. forces destroyed 10 tankers linked to the multibillion-dollar shadow network of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
“All mariners are advised to heed blockade warnings from CENTCOM forces,” the command asserted.
