US forces disable St. Kitts-flagged cargo vessel in Gulf of Oman, CENTCOM says

US forces disabled a commercial cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman after its crew allegedly ignored repeated warnings and attempted to breach Washington's naval blockade against Iran, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Saturday.

The St. Kitts-flagged M/V Huda was struck by precision munitions fired from a US military aircraft, targeting the vessel's stern and leaving it disabled, according to CENTCOM.

The command said the crew had been instructed to abandon the targeted areas before the strike. The vessel had attempted to leave regional waters after making a port call in Iran.

"U.S. forces continue to strictly enforce America's naval blockade against Iran," CENTCOM said, adding that enforcement operations since July had resulted in 147 commercial vessels being redirected after complying with orders.

Five merchant ships that refused to comply have also been disabled, the statement said.

CENTCOM further said US forces had destroyed 10 Iranian commercial oil tankers allegedly linked to a multibillion-dollar shadow network operated by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The command urged mariners operating near Iranian coastal areas and surrounding waters to heed warnings issued by US forces.

The statement did not provide details about the condition of the Huda's crew or the extent of damage to the vessel.

Task Force Iron Gate

In a separate announcement, CENTCOM said its commander has launched a new task force to stop Iran from using land routes to move weapons and other materials, according to Kurdistan24.

Adm. Brad Cooper directed the formation of Task Force Iron Gate on Nov. 7, Kurdistan24 reported. It is an internal staff of approximately 20 civilian and military personnel based in Tampa, Florida, the outlet reported.

The team will coordinate with other US government agencies to prevent the movement of advanced weapons systems, dual-use technologies, sanctioned materials, and illegal revenue streams across Iran's land borders and the Caspian Sea, Kurdistan24 reported.

"The establishment of Task Force Iron Gate reinforces the success of our ironclad blockade against Iran at sea," Cooper said, according to Kurdistan24. "Strengthening CENTCOM's collaboration with U.S. interagency partners will further constrain Iran's ability to finance terrorism, rebuild weapons factories, and replenish their military," the outlet reported.

CENTCOM said America's naval blockade has, in recent months, prevented Iran from exporting more than $25 billion in crude oil, Kurdistan24 reported.

Why it matters

The strike on the M/V Huda marks the latest enforcement action under the US naval blockade against Iran, which CENTCOM says has redirected 147 commercial vessels since July and disabled five merchant ships that refused to comply. The creation of Task Force Iron Gate extends enforcement beyond maritime routes to Iran's land borders and the Caspian Sea.

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Sources

• anews.com.tr: US forces disabled cargo ship in Gulf of Oman: CENTCOM
• kurdistan24.net: CENTCOM Disables Cargo Ship in Gulf of Oman Over Iran Blockade

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.