US military forces have disabled a commercial cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman after its crew allegedly ignored multiple warnings and attempted to breach the naval blockade against Iran, according to Central Command (CENTCOM). A US military fighter jet struck the stern of the Panama-flagged M/V Ocean Molica, also known as the Arika Sun, using a precision munition on Saturday, disabling the ship’s propulsion without harming the crew, CENTCOM stated. The vessel was reportedly trying to transit regional waters after departing from an Iranian port.
CENTCOM noted that its forces resumed their blockade against all ships entering or departing Iranian ports on July 14, during which they disabled four commercial vessels and turned around 135 ships over three months of strict enforcement. Additionally, US forces destroyed 10 tankers linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) during this period, which CENTCOM described as part of a multibillion-dollar shadow network.
US Senator Chris Murphy expressed concern over the military action, questioning the rationale behind the strike and the financial implications for taxpayers. He stated on X, "What is this all for? Why are taxpayers paying billions to hit commercial ships?" Murphy further commented on the goal of gaining leverage to persuade Iran to return to previous agreements.
In a related incident, Iran’s IRGC reported that it struck a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz for attempting to take an illegal route, asserting control over the vital waterway. According to Iranian media, the IRGC claimed to have taken control of the administration of the strait and stated that they struck a giant LPG carrier named NV Sunshine, owned by NatWit, for attempting to transit via an unauthorized route.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported that an outbound tanker in the strait was struck by an unknown projectile, resulting in a fire on board, although crew members were reported safe. The extent of damage and environmental impact was not immediately clear. The UKMTO also noted that a vessel sailing 94km (58 miles) north of Madinat ash Shamal was struck by multiple projectiles, leading to several casualties, though details regarding the origin of the ship and the number of casualties were not specified.
Since the onset of the US-Israel conflict with Iran in late February, vessels in the Gulf have faced repeated attacks while attempting to navigate the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route for global oil and liquefied natural gas transport, accounting for about a fifth of the world's supply.