The US Navy disabled another ship in the Strait of Hormuz as it attempted to run the US blockade.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) released a statement on X about the incident, which took place on Saturday.
A hellfire missile was fired by a naval aircraft after a Gambian-flagged ship failed to respond to multiple warnings about the blockade.
“CENTCOM forces observed M/V Lian Star transiting international waters toward an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman and issued more than 20 warnings while informing the vessel it was in violation of the U.S. blockade,” the statement said.
“A U.S. aircraft disabled the vessel by firing a Hellfire missile into the ship’s engine room after Lian Star’s crew failed to comply. The ship is no longer transiting to Iran.”
According to CENTCOM, the US navy has now disabled five ships and “redirected” 116 more since the blockade of the Strait began in April.
Speaking on Saturday in Singapore, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the blockade is “very much still in place” as it was reported the US and Iran were edging closer to a deal to end the war and reopen the Strait, through which 20% of the world’s hydrocarbon exports pass under normal conditions.
Oils prices dropped significantly on Thursday amid news of a potential deal.
