Overview
- U.S. forces fired precision munitions into the engine room of the Palau-flagged oil tanker M/T Settebello after the crew repeatedly failed to follow U.S. directions, CENTCOM said.
- The strike occurred at 11:14 p.m. on Tuesday in the Gulf of Oman and was the second straight day U.S. forces disabled a vessel for violating the blockade, CENTCOM released video showing the hit and resulting fire.
- Since launching the blockade on April 13, CENTCOM reports U.S. forces have disabled eight non-compliant ships, redirected 134 vessels that complied with orders, and allowed 42 ships carrying humanitarian aid to pass.
- The operation raises safety and legal questions because it targets flagged commercial ships in international waters and exposes merchant crews to harm while complicating flag-state and maritime law issues.
- The strikes form part of a recent uptick in U.S.-Iran kinetic exchanges and public U.S. threats, and they could further disrupt regional shipping, increase risk of retaliation, and shape diplomatic leverage in ongoing talks.