US military says it disabled cargo vessel trying to run Iran blockade

The United States military announced Saturday that it immobilized a commercial freight vessel operating in the Gulf of Oman, stating the ship defied orders while seeking to bypass a naval blockade imposed on Iran.

According to a statement shared on social media by U.S. Central Command, an American fighter aircraft launched a precision weapon at the stern of the bulk carrier, which sails under the flag of Panama. The operation targeted the M/V Ocean Molica, a vessel also identified as the Arika Sun, intentionally knocking out its propulsion systems without causing injuries among the crew members on board.

Military officials reported that the commercial ship had departed from a port in Iran before attempting to navigate through waters in the region. U.S. forces carried out the strike after personnel aboard the vessel failed to heed multiple warnings to halt, CENTCOM stated.

Following the incident, CENTCOM issued an advisory to seafarers operating across the Gulf of Oman and near entry points to the Strait of Hormuz. Maritime crews were urged to adhere strictly to blockade restrictions, actively listen to official navigational broadcasts, and maintain direct communication with American naval authorities.

The military action coincides with an escalating clampdown on sea traffic in one of the most critical energy transit corridors on the planet. Maritime traffic navigating the Strait of Hormuz has recently dropped to its lowest point in over two months, following a surge in attacks against commercial tankers. Those incidents hit peak levels last week amid ongoing hostilities launched in February by the United States and Israel against Iran.

The continuous instability in regional waterways has fueled significant anxieties regarding global supply disruptions and placed upward pressure on international crude oil values. Prior to the outbreak of the conflict, the Strait of Hormuz served as a transit route for approximately one-fifth of global oil consumption.

Efforts by news organizations to contact the operating company of the disabled cargo carrier for comment were not immediately successful.