US military shoots, disables Iranian-flagged tanker in Gulf of Oman: CENTCOM

The US military said its forces fired on and disabled an Iranian-flagged tanker en route to an Iranian port in the Gulf of Oman early Wednesday after it ignored warnings that it was violating the American naval blockade.

A US Navy fighter jet fired several rounds from a 20mm cannon, disabling the M/T Hasna.

“After the crew failed to comply with repeated warnings, US forces disabled the tanker’s rudder by firing several rounds from the 20mm cannon of a US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet launched from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Hasna is no longer transiting to Iran,” the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.

“The US blockade against ships attempting to enter or depart Iranian ports remains in full effect.”

CENTCOM said its forces continue to act “deliberately and professionally to ensure compliance.”

Earlier in the day, CENTCOM said that the blockade had forced more than 50 commercial vessels to turn around and return to port.