Washington DC, October 12 (TNA) The U.S. Central Command has said that a military fighter jet struck the stern of the Panama-flagged bulk carrier M/V Ocean Molica with a precision munition in the Gulf of Oman, fully disabling its propulsion without harming the crew.
The large cargo vessel, which had departed an Iranian port, ignored repeated warnings and tried to run the ongoing U.S. naval blockade against ships entering or leaving Iranian ports. CENTCOM resumed the blockade on July 14.
In 3 months of enforcement, U.S. forces have disabled 4 commercial vessels, turned back 135 ships, and destroyed 10 tankers linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard shadow network. Mariners were advised to heed warnings, monitor notices, and contact U.S. naval forces on channel 16.