Gaza Herald – US Central Command stated on Saturday that a US military aircraft fired upon and disabled a commercial vessel attempting to circumvent the naval blockade of Iran. The incident occurred as the ship tried to exit regional waters.
The cargo vessel, registered under the flag of St Kitts and Nevis, had previously visited an Iranian port. According to Centcom, US forces ordered the crew to clear specific targeted areas of the ship before precision munitions were fired at its stern.
Centcom confirmed that the strike was executed after the crew failed to comply with orders to secure the targeted sections of the vessel. The command emphasized that the action was taken to prevent the ship from breaking the established blockade.
In addition to the maritime operation, the US military announced the launch of a new task force aimed at disrupting Iran’s movement of advanced weapons and other sanctioned materials. This initiative targets land borders and routes through the Caspian Sea.
This development expands upon the months-long naval blockade currently enforced by US forces in the region. The command highlighted the strategic importance of intercepting these shipments to limit Iran’s capabilities.
Centcom provided estimates regarding the economic impact of the blockade on Iranian exports. The command stated that the measures have prevented Iran from exporting more than $25bn worth of crude oil during this period.
The announcement underscores the intensification of efforts to restrict Iranian trade and military logistics. Both maritime and terrestrial routes are now subject to heightened scrutiny and enforcement actions by US military units.
This report was produced in the Gaza Herald newsroom.
