US forces strike commercial vessel in Gulf of Oman after crew 'ignored repeated warnings'

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said a US military aircraft fired precision munitions at the stern of the St. Kitts-flagged M/V Huda, disabling the ship. The cargo vessel tried to depart regional waters after visiting an Iranian port, despite repeated warnings from the US military.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported an incident involving a bulk carrier and military forces in the Gulf of Oman, around 18 nautical miles east of Khor Fakkan. The UAE National Guard announced that 22 people had been rescued from the cargo ship.

Since July, US forces have redirected 147 commercial vessels that complied with the blockade and disabled five merchant ships that refused. CENTCOM has also destroyed another 10 Iranian commercial oil tankers that were part of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps’ multibillion-dollar shadow network.

Iran claims tankers hit mines

The IRGC navy claimed that two oil tankers, one to the east of the Strait of Hormuz and another sailing in the waterway, had caught fire after hitting mines. The Guards said the tankers were using an unauthorised route and had switched off their navigation and positioning systems.

The Guards accused CENTCOM's commander of "fantasy" and warned that any ship or vessel that cooperates with the US military, disobeys Iranian regulations for the Strait of Hormuz and enters the unauthorised area, will inevitably hit a mine.

Escalation in the Strait of Hormuz

Tensions between Tehran and Washington have flared once again in recent days following the end of the US midterm elections. On Friday night, reports emerged of explosions on Qeshm Island, and the Tasnim news agency reported that two missiles had struck the area.

US President Donald Trump confirmed that US forces had targeted an Iranian air defence system. Iranian news agencies reported on Saturday night that further explosions had been heard in Qeshm, Sirik, Jask and Bandar Abbas.