Click to see full-size image. (U.S. Central Command)
United States forces operating in the Gulf of Oman enforced blockade measures by disabling an Iranian-flagged unladen oil tanker attempting to sail toward an Iranian port, the Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on May 6, following reports of progress in talks with the Islamic Republic.
In a statement, the command said that its forces observed Hasna as it transited international waters enroute to an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman.
It added that the forces issued multiple warnings and informed the Iranian-flagged vessel it was in violation of the U.S. blockade.
After Hasna’s crew failed to comply with repeated warnings, U.S. forces disabled the tanker’s rudder by firing several rounds from the 20 mm cannon gun of a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet launched from USS Abraham Lincoln. according to the command, which noted that Hasna is no longer transiting to Iran.
“The U.S. blockade against ships attempting to enter or depart Iranian ports remains in full effect,” CENTCOM said, stressing that its forces will continue to “act deliberately and professionally to ensure compliance.”
The incident came after President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. will be pausing the operation it launched earlier in the week to assist vessels stuck in the Strait of Hormuz due to progress made in talks toward a permanent ceasefire with Iran.
The strategic waterway — a choke point for around 20 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas — has been very much under Iranian control since the start of the American-Israeli war on the Islamic Republic.
The U.S. operation, codenamed “Project Freedom,” triggered a fierce response from the Islamic Republic, which opened fire at American warships, targeted several commercial vessels, and renewed strikes on the United Arab Emirates.
Reports that emerged after Trump’s announcement revealed that the U.S. and Iran are nearing a one-page memorandum of understanding with Iran to end the war and lay out a framework for talks on the regime’s nuclear program.
The attack on the Hasna represents a new escalation by the U.S., although it could be just an attempt to negotiate with fire. Iran itself is reported to have shot down an American MQ-9 Reaper combat drone over Qeshm Island around the same time Trump made his latest announcement.
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doing what they do best fire at somebody that can’t fight back cowards!
“super hornet”….😂
where are the muricans? to shoot down their own planes?
“u.s. super hornet shot down over red sea in friendly fire incident; aviators safe”
usni news
please rename “super hornet” to “ultra sting hyper bastard” ty.
i only fire 9 yr old boy anuz in my americunt ghetto