The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that the U.S Navy disabled two Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman on Friday. The naval forces has currently redirected 57 commercial ships in the region as part of the ongoing blockade against Tehran.
CENTCOm issued a statement on Friday, saying the U.S forces disabled the Iranian tankers M/T Sea Star III and M/T Sevda before they could enter a port on the Gulf of Oman.
“U.S Central Command (CENTCOM) enforced blockade measures against two Iranian-flagged unladen oil tankers attempting to pull into an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman. A U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet from USS George HW Bush (CVN 77) disabled both tankers after firing precision munitions into their smokestacks, preventing the non-compliant ships from entering Iran,” said the statement.
U.S forces had similarly disabled another Iranian tanker, M/T Hasna, on May 6.
CENTCOM said an F/A-18 Super Hornet was launched from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), targeting M/T Hasna’s rudder using a 20mm cannon gun.
The statement said that none of the three vessels were currently transiting to Iran.
CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper said the U.S forces were committed to the full enforcement of the blockade of vehicles entering or leaving Iran.
He said, “U.S forces in the Middle East remain committed to full enforcement of the blockade of vessels entering or leaving Iran. Our highly trained men and women in uniform are doing incredible work.”
CENTCOM also announced on X that 57 commercial ships were redirected in the region. It also shared photographs of USS Truxtun (DDG 103), USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115), and USS Mason (DDG 87) operating in the Arabian Sea as part of enforcing the blockade measures.
“Photos of USS Truxtun (DDG 103), USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115), and USS Mason (DDG 87) operating in the Middle East. The three destroyers are currently sailing in the Arabian Sea supporting the blockade against Iran. As of today, CENTCOM forces have redirected 57 commercial vessels and disabled 4 to prevent the ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports,” the post said.
CENTCOM’s X handle also reported more than 70 tankers being prevented by U.S forces from entering or leaving Iran.
