U.S. forces disabled an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman on Monday after the vessel allegedly attempted to sail to an Iranian port in violation of an ongoing American naval blockade, U.S. Central Command said.

According to CENTCOM, the Palau-flagged M/T Marivex was traveling through international waters toward Iran when it failed to comply with directions from U.S. forces. An F/A-18 Super Hornet launched from the USS Abraham Lincoln then fired a precision munition into the tanker’s engineering and steering spaces, disabling the vessel.

“Marivex is no longer sailing to Iran,” CENTCOM bluntly said in a statement.

The tanker was unladen at the time of the strike, according to U.S. officials. Video released by CENTCOM appeared to show the vessel at sea with smoke rising from the area of the ship after it was hit.

The incident marks the latest escalation in the U.S. effort to enforce a maritime blockade against Iranian ports amid continued tensions in the region. CENTCOM said the blockade has been in effect since April 13 and that U.S. forces have now disabled seven non-compliant vessels, redirected 134 ships that complied with instructions, and allowed 42 vessels carrying humanitarian aid to pass.

Indian officials and media reports said 24 Indian crew members aboard the Marivex were safely evacuated after the vessel caught fire off the coast of Oman. No injuries were immediately reported.

The Gulf of Oman sits just outside the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints and a key route for global oil shipments. Any military action involving commercial vessels in the area carries the risk of further inflaming tensions and disrupting shipping traffic in the region.

Monday’s strike follows other recent U.S. actions against vessels accused of trying to violate the blockade. Earlier this month, CENTCOM said U.S. forces disabled another unladen tanker, the Botswana-flagged M/T Lexie, after it ignored repeated warnings while traveling toward Iran’s Kharg Island.

U.S. officials said Monday’s operation was carried out as part of continuing efforts to enforce the blockade and prevent vessels from entering or leaving Iranian ports without authorization.

CENTCOM said American forces will continue to enforce the restrictions while allowing humanitarian aid shipments to move through the area.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)