US CENTCOM disables oil tanker in Gulf of Oman over alleged blockade violation
Florida, June 11
The US Central Command claimed that its forces disabled an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman after it allegedly violated an ongoing blockade by attempting to transport oil from Iran.
It said that precision munitions were used to target the vessel's engine room after repeated non-compliance by the crew. It added that eight non-compliant vessels have been disabled, 134 ships redirected, and 42 humanitarian vessels allowed to pass since the blockade began on April 13.
In an official statement, the US Central Command stated, "At 11:14 p.m. on June 9, U.S. forces disabled an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman for the second consecutive day after another vessel violated the ongoing blockade by attempting to transport oil from Iran. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) disabled Palau-flagged M/T Settebello as it transited the Gulf of Oman."
"A U.S. aircraft fired precision munitions into the ship's engine room after the crew repeatedly failed to comply with directions from American forces. CENTCOM forces have disabled eight non-compliant vessels, redirected 134 ships that complied, and allowed 42 vessels supporting humanitarian aid to pass since initiating the blockade on April 13," the statement read.
Meanwhile, US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Wednesday (local time) said that its forces have begun launching additional self-defence strikes against multiple targets in Iran.
It also stated that the action is in response to continued and "unwarranted" Iranian aggression.
In a post on X, the official account of US Central Command shared, "U.S. Central Command forces began launching additional self-defence strikes today at 5:15 p.m. ET against multiple targets in Iran at the Commander in Chief's direction. The strikes are in response to Iran's unwarranted and continued aggression."
Citing Iranian media Mehr news agency, Al Jazeera reported fresh explosions in the port city of Bandar Abbas, noting that the blasts were linked to an incident in the eastern part of the city. Additional explosions were also reported in several other locations, including the southern towns of Sirik and Minab, as well as Qeshm Island and the northern city of Gorgan.
— ANI
Reader Comments
While I understand the need to enforce sanctions, disabling a civilian tanker's engine room with precision munitions seems excessive. Why not just seize the cargo? This could easily escalate into a wider conflict that hurts everyone, including our own oil imports from the region. 😕
Finally, someone is taking action against Iran's provocations! They've been destabilising the region for years. The US is doing what the UN should have done long ago. Our own government should take note and maybe support such measures to keep the Strait of Hormuz safe for everyone. 👍
This is alarming. As India imports a huge chunk of oil from the Gulf, any blockade or conflict there hits our economy directly. The government should be engaging diplomatically with both sides right now. A war between US and Iran would be disastrous for us. 🤔
Look, Iran has been violating international norms for decades. The US is just enforcing consequences. India should stay neutral but also quietly support efforts to stop Iranian aggression. Our own relations with Iran are complicated, but we can't afford instability in the Gulf. 🇮🇳
Why is the US striking targets in Iran on top of this? It feels like they are looking for a war. The precision strike on the tanker was one thing, but this escalation is reckless. India must call for de-escalation immediately. The entire region is a powder keg now. 😣
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.