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U.S. Fighter Jet Disables Cargo Ship in Gulf of Oman, CENTCOM Says It Ran Iran Blockade
CENTCOM says the Panama-flagged bulk carrier Ocean Molica ignored repeated warnings after leaving an Iranian port; a U.S. fighter jet struck its stern with a precision munition on Oct. 10, knocking out propulsion with no crew injuries.
Why it matters
This is the fourth commercial vessel publicly disabled since the U.S. resumed enforcement of its naval blockade on Iran in July. Shipping risk around the Strait of Hormuz, which carries about 20% of the world's oil consumption, keeps rising.
Full report
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Oct. 11 that a U.S. fighter jet struck the stern of the Panama-flagged bulk carrier M/V Ocean Molica (also known as the Arika Sun) with a precision-guided munition in the Gulf of Oman on Oct. 10, fully disabling its propulsion. No crew members were injured.
CENTCOM said the vessel had departed an Iranian port and its crew ignored repeated warnings before attempting to run the U.S. naval blockade on ships entering or leaving Iranian ports. The command did not disclose the aircraft or munition type, the cargo, the number of people aboard, or what will happen to the vessel now that it cannot move under its own power.
CENTCOM also released enforcement figures: since the blockade resumed on July 14, four commercial vessels have been disabled and 135 ships turned back, while 10 tankers it links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' "shadow fleet" have been destroyed.
Reuters confirmed the announcement, citing the CENTCOM statement; the ship's operator could not immediately be reached. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) separately reported an outbound tanker in the Gulf of Oman hit by an unidentified projectile and on fire, with the crew safe; it is not confirmed whether it is the same vessel.
Note: the above is the U.S. account; Iran has not publicly responded to this incident.
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