U.S. Central Command Disables Oil Tanker and Strikes Iranian Targets in Arabian Gulf, Kuwait Intercepts Drones
ARABIAN GULF — On July 15, CENTCOM forces disabled a Curacao-flagged oil tanker in the Arabian Gulf after it ignored multiple warnings while attempting to transit toward an Iranian port in violation of a naval blockade reimposed the previous day.
A short while later, U.S. forces launched a second wave of strikes targeting Iranian military capabilities used to threaten vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. Central Command stated that forces observed the unladen M/T Belma transiting international waters toward Kharg Island.
The vessel continued its course despite warnings. A U.S. aircraft then fired AGM-114 Hellfire (air-to-ground missile) missiles into the ship’s smokestack, rendering it inoperable.
The action marked the first disablement of a vessel since the blockade resumed. Two other commercial vessels were redirected during the initial 24-hour period.
Assessment: The disablement occurred after repeated ignored warnings during active enforcement of the blockade that began at 4 p.m. ET on July 14, according to CENTCOM. This represents the first vessel disabled under the current measures, with two compliant vessels redirected in the same period.