U.S. Central Command said it disabled the M/V Huda after the ship ignored warnings and attempted to leave regional waters following a visit to an Iranian port.
U.S. Central Command said it disabled a commercial cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman on November 7 after the ship’s crew ignored repeated warnings and attempted to violate the U.S. naval blockade against Iran.
The St. Kitts-flagged vessel M/V Huda had visited an Iranian port and attempted to leave regional waters, according to CENTCOM. U.S. forces directed the crew to abandon targeted spaces, then fired precision-guided munitions at the ship’s stern, rendering it incapable of navigation.
"U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces disabled a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman, Nov. 7, after the ship's civilian crew ignored repeated warnings and attempted to violate the naval blockade against Iran multiple times," CENTCOM stated.
Video showed a ship emitting thick black smoke after being hit.
CENTCOM said enforcement actions since July have resulted in U.S. forces redirecting 147 commercial vessels that complied and disabling five merchant ships that refused to comply. The command also said it has destroyed 10 oil tankers associated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
On the same day, CENTCOM announced the formation of a new task force based in Tampa, Florida, called Task Force Iron Gate. Adm. Brad Cooper directed its formation to control the flow of materials across Iran’s land borders. CENTCOM said the task force aims 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."
The strike is part of a months-long U.S. naval blockade on Iran in and around the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial strategic waterway for global shipping, including oil. The last confirmed U.S. strike on a cargo vessel was nearly a month ago in the Gulf of Oman.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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