US Warplane Strikes Cargo Ship Defying Iran Naval Blockade

A US military aircraft struck and disabled a commercial cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman after it allegedly attempted to breach Washington's naval blockade against Iran, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM).

The St. Kitts and Nevis-flagged M/V Huda was hit on November 7 after its civilian crew ignored repeated warnings from American forces, CENTCOM said.

A US warplane fired precision-guided munitions at the ship's stern after military personnel instructed the crew to evacuate the targeted sections of the vessel.

The cargo ship had previously visited an Iranian port and was attempting to leave regional waters when the incident occurred.

According to maritime reporting, the Huda is a 159-meter bulk carrier built in 1999 and operated under Turkish management. The vessel was reportedly located approximately 18 nautical miles east of Khor Fakkan in the United Arab Emirates.

The condition of the crew and the full extent of damage were not immediately known.

CENTCOM said US forces have redirected 147 commercial vessels that complied with blockade instructions since July, while five merchant ships that refused orders were disabled.

The command also claimed American forces had previously destroyed 10 Iranian commercial oil tankers allegedly connected to a multibillion-dollar shadow shipping network operated by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The strike comes as Washington expands efforts to restrict Iran's maritime trade and military supply networks.

On the same day, the US military announced Task Force Iron Gate, a new initiative targeting the movement of weapons, dual-use technologies and sanctioned materials through Iran's land borders and the Caspian Sea.

The latest incident highlights the risks facing commercial shipping as US-Iran tensions continue to disrupt maritime operations around the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman.