Illustrative image. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Brian Ferguson).
United States forces disabled an oil tanker attempting to reach Iran after it ignored repeated warnings, Central Command (CENTCOM) announced late on July 15.
In a statement, the command said its forces observed the Curaçao-flagged Belma transiting international waters toward Kharg Island — Iran’s primary economic lifeline and the beating heart of its oil empire, processing approximately 90 precent of the country’s crude oil exports through its deep-water terminals.
The commercial vessel ignored multiple warnings as it attempted to violate the U.S. blockade, according to the command, which added that a U.S. aircraft disabled the vessel after firing Hellfire missiles into the ship’s smokestack.
“U.S. forces remain vigilant and prepared to ensure full compliance,” CENTCOM concluded.
U.S. forces resumed the naval blockade against vessels transiting to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas a day earlier, and since then CENTCOM has announced redirecting two compliant commercial vessels and disabling one non-compliant vessel.
President Donald Trump’s decision to reinstate the blockade on Iran came following several days of clashes with the Islamic Republic. The decision violates a key term of the memorandum of understanding signed last month to end the war.
The current confrontation, which mainly revolves around the Strait of Hormuz, marks the most serious escalation since the deal came into effect.
More escalation is to be expected. The Wall Street Journal reported on July 15 that Trump is leaning toward further expanding U.S. military operations in Iran after huddling with top aides in the Situation Room a day earlier. Options discussed include intensified strikes, deploying ground troops to seize Iranian territory near the Strait of Hormuz, or bombing the Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site, according to the report.
Trump hasn’t made a final decision on the matter, but some U.S. officials told the Journal that he is reluctant to deploy ground troops after walking back previous threats to seize Kharg Island.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
NOW hosted at southfront.press
Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.
The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation
Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com
tehran will fall…very soon…heheheh
dream on. shorty!
the jooz and their amerikunt whores have just ignited another forever war. they couldn’t beat hamas. they couldn’t beat hezbollah. the afghan goat herders kicked their butts. the houthis kicked their butts. these no hopers are going to get another spanking. all the joo and amerikunt bases are a pile of rubble! heheheheh.
captain chaos chumpo is running around like a headless chicken, rearranging the deckchairs on the titanic after ploughing into the iceberg. he hasn’t got a f…..g clue what he’s doing. “here’s another fine mess the jooz have gotten me into!” heheheheh
it is theater, tragedy
is iran still a nation ? then it wins by simple survival. america can supply the ordnance, troops and logistics to gain any victory. iran will suffer any hardship to survive. the globalist pig run economy is falling. good bye !
dearie dearie me, chumpo and the amerikunt joo whores are totally f….d! no diesel, no jet fuel, no fertilizer, no helium, no sulphur, no gas, f… all! and now no chinese rare earth! heheheh
the chump is taco one. i.r.iran know e v e r y step that he’s doing and what for already in advance.
only americunt ground opertaion possible is in tel aviv gay bars where i derp hebrew jizz squirted in my anuz
the joo organ grinders are sitting back watching their trained monkey chumpo scampering around throwing turds against the wall! hehehehehs