MUSCAT, October 11, 2026 — A United States military fighter jet has disabled a Panama-flagged commercial cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman after the ship’s crew ignored repeated warnings and attempted to run Washington’s naval blockade against Iran, US Central Command said on Saturday.
CENTCOM said the jet struck the stern of the M/V Ocean Molica — also known as the “Arika Sun” — with a precision munition, fully disabling the ship’s propulsion without harming the crew. The command added that the large cargo vessel had previously departed an Iranian port and was attempting to transit regional waters when it was intercepted.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency confirmed it had received a report of an “incident involving a tanker and military forces” in the Gulf of Oman, saying authorities were aware and investigations were ongoing. The agency urged vessels in the area to remain alert.
Tanker traffic hits two-month low
The strike underscores a sharp escalation in the battle over commercial shipping lanes around the Strait of Hormuz. According to CENTCOM, four commercial vessels have been disabled since July 28, when the US resumed strict enforcement of its blockade on Iranian ports, while 10 tankers have been destroyed and 135 vessels forced to turn around.
The blockade was first imposed on April 13, temporarily lifted on June 18 after a US–Iran agreement, and reinstated on July 14 amid renewed strikes. Reuters reported that the number of vessels transiting the vital strait has fallen to its lowest level in more than two months, after attacks on tankers reached their highest point last week since the US and Israel launched the war on Iran in February. Before the conflict, the Strait of Hormuz carried around 20 per cent of the world’s oil consumption.
Iran claims mine strike on supertanker
Hours before the US announcement, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that an oil supertanker had exploded and caught fire after striking a naval mine while attempting to leave the Strait of Hormuz through what Tehran called an “unauthorised” route. Iranian state media reported that the vessel had switched off its navigation and positioning systems before entering the passage. The claim has not been independently verified.
UKMTO separately reported that an outbound tanker in the strait was struck on its port side by an unknown projectile, causing a fire on board. The agency said the crew was reported safe, though the extent of the damage remained unclear.
Trump weighs wider response
Asked by reporters on Saturday whether the United States planned to join Saudi strikes on Yemen’s Houthis after the deadly missile attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, President Donald Trump said: “It’s possible. We’ll look into it.” The airport strike killed 12 people and injured 309, and Riyadh has launched a new wave of air and missile strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen in response.
Trump also said Iran might step up its actions ahead of next month’s US midterm elections but warned that the United States could end the confrontation “really quick.” The president has previously claimed that 159 Iranian ships have been sunk since the war began in late February.
CENTCOM warned mariners in the Gulf of Oman and the approaches to the Strait of Hormuz to heed blockade warnings, monitor notice-to-mariners broadcasts, and contact US naval forces.
