U.S. Military Disables Oil Tanker Heading to Kharg Island

On July 15, 2026, the U.S. military disabled an oil tanker in the Arabian Gulf that was en route to Kharg Island, a key distribution point for Iran's oil. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that the Curacao-flagged M/T Belma was observed transiting international waters and ignored multiple warnings before a U.S. aircraft fired missiles into the ship's smokestack, disabling it. This action follows the reinstatement of a naval blockade by President Donald Trump, aimed at restricting ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz. The blockade was initially established in April but was relaxed in June after a memorandum of understanding intended to create a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. However, the agreement collapsed in July, leading to the blockade's reinstatement. CENTCOM stated that during the first day of enforcement, they redirected two compliant vessels and disabled one noncompliant vessel. Additionally, U.S. forces conducted strikes on various military targets in Iran to reduce its capability to threaten maritime operations in the Strait of Hormuz.