Key facts
- U.S. Central Command disabled a third oil tanker, the M/T Jalveer, in the Gulf of Oman for violating an Iranian blockade.
- The M/T Jalveer, flagged in Guinea-Bissau, carried 20 Indian seafarers who were reported safe.
- India has lodged a strong protest with the U.S. following previous strikes that resulted in the deaths of three Indian crew members.
- U.S. forces have disabled nine vessels and redirected 135 ships since initiating the blockade on April 13.
- The strikes are part of ongoing tensions and blockades in the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed it disabled a third oil tanker, the M/T Jalveer, in the Gulf of Oman for attempting to transport oil through an Iranian blockade. The vessel, flagged in Guinea-Bissau, was struck by two Hellfire missiles fired into its engine room after the crew repeatedly failed to comply with directions from U.S. forces. This incident follows similar strikes on the Palau-flagged MT Settebello and MT Marivex earlier in the week.
CENTCOM stated that its forces have disabled nine non-compliant vessels and redirected 135 ships since initiating its blockade on April 13, while allowing 42 vessels supporting humanitarian aid to pass. The strikes occur amidst ongoing tensions and rival blockades in the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman, with Tehran having stopped cargo ship traffic since February 28.
India has lodged a strong protest with the U.S. diplomat in New Delhi following previous strikes that resulted in the deaths of three Indian crew members. The M/T Jalveer carried 20 Indian seafarers, who were reported to be safe and undergoing evacuation.