Washington, June 8, (dpa/GNA) – The US military says it has attacked a tanker in the Gulf of Oman, that was heading for an Iranian port.
The unloaded oil tanker had violated the US blockade of Iranian ports, the US Central Command (CENTCOM), which is responsible for the Middle East, posted on the X platform on Monday. “US Central Command (CENTCOM) disabled Palau-flagged M/T Marivex, as it transited international waters in the Gulf of Oman toward Iran,” CENTCOM wrote on X.
The engine room and bridge of the vessel were fired upon after the crew failed to follow instructions. The ship is reportedly unable to manoeuvre. The Indian Ministry of Shipping had previously reported that an oil tanker with 24 Indian seafarers on board had caught fire. All crew members are thought to be safe.
The Strait of Hormuz, which is vital for global trade and is currently effectively blocked by Iran, is not far from the area where the ship was attacked.
The US imposed a blockade on Iranian ports as part of the Iran conflict. Since the start of the war on April 13, seven ships have been rendered manoeuvrable, according to CENTCOM.
GNA