US military disables Panama‑flagged cargo vessel after it ignored Iran blockade warnings

Oct 10 (Reuters) – The US military said on Saturday it had disabled a commercial cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman after the ship’s crew ignored warnings and attempted to breach a naval blockade against Iran.

A US Central Command post on X reported that a US fighter jet struck the stern of the Panama‑flagged M/V Ocean Molica, also known as the Arika Sun, with a precision munition, fully disabling the vessel’s propulsion without harming the crew.

CENTCOM stated that the cargo vessel had tried to transit regional waters after leaving an Iranian port.

Reuters was unable to reach the bulk carrier’s operator for comment at the time.

CENTCOM urged mariners in the Gulf of Oman and the approaches to the Strait of Hormuz to heed blockade warnings, monitor navigational alerts and contact US naval forces.

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell to its lowest point in more than two months after tanker attacks surged to their highest level last week since the US and Israel launched the war on Iran in February, raising concerns about shipping disruptions and supporting higher crude prices.

Before the conflict, the Strait of Hormuz carried about 20 % of the world’s oil consumption.

Reporting by Rishabh Jaiswal and Abu Sultan in Bengaluru; Editing by William Mallard

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