contested
[UPDATE] U.S. fighter jet disables a Panama-flagged cargo ship trying to evade the Iran port blockade, Central Command says
It is the fourth ship U.S. forces have disabled since the blockade resumed July 14, Central Command says; it counts 135 others turned back.
Central Command said Sunday, Oct. 11, that a U.S. fighter jet struck the stern of the M/V Ocean Molica, a Panama-flagged cargo ship also known as Arika Sun, in the Gulf of Oman. The command said the ship ignored warnings and tried to slip the blockade of Iranian ports. According to the command, the strike knocked out the ship's engines without harming the crew. The command counts it as the fourth ship disabled since the blockade resumed Tuesday, July 14, with 135 more turned back; on Oct. 5 its tally was three and 130.
PREVIOUSLY
- April 13 — U.S. forces began blockading ships bound to or from Iranian ports.
- June 14–18 — The U.S. and Iran announced a memorandum to end the war; the U.S. lifted the blockade June 18.
- July 7–14 — Iran fired on ships using routes it had not approved; Trump called the deal "over," and the blockade resumed July 14.
- July 15–Aug. 11 — U.S. forces disabled three ships running it: the tankers Belma (July 15) and Lavine (July 24) and the cargo ship Vela Nova (Aug. 11).
- Oct. 8 — The Pentagon told Central Command to ready strike options usable before the Nov. 3 midterms.
- Oct. 9 — Trump said the U.S. would not attack Iran before Nov. 3 and kept the naval blockade in force; Brent crude hit $104.60.