The United States Central Command (Centcom) confirmed the neutralization of two crude oil transport units in the Gulf of Oman through the use of an F-18 fighter. The precision attack disabled the navigation of the vessels, the Sea Star III and Sevda, for violating the US blockade, thus thwarting their attempt to arrive at Iranian ports.
Days earlier, the vessel Hasna was also the target of a similar action when a fighter aircraft, operated from the USS Abraham Lincoln, opened fire on its rudder system. The use of the 20 mm cannon left the vessel inoperable, preventing its advance towards Iranian waters.
“US forces disabled the oil tankers M/T Sea Star III and M/T Sevda this May 8, before both vessels entered an Iranian port in the Gulf of Oman, violating the current blockade imposed by the United States. Centcom applied blockade measures against two empty Iranian-flagged tankers attempting to dock at a port in the Gulf of Oman,” stated the US Central Command.
“An F/A-18 Super Hornet from the United States Navy, from the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), disabled both ships after firing precision munitions at their smokestacks, preventing the vessels, which did not comply with orders, from entering Iran,” it added.
Regarding the three disabled tankers, Centcom stressed that none continue their transit towards Iran. “US forces in the Middle East maintain their commitment to strictly enforce the blockade on vessels entering or leaving Iran,” declared Admiral Brad Cooper, Centcom commander.
“Our highly trained men and women in uniform are doing an incredible job. Multiple commercial vessels have been disabled and more than 50 have been diverted by Centcom forces to ensure compliance with the blockade,” he elaborated.
