US Forces Fire on Tanker Trying to Evade Blockade

The vessel’s crew didn’t comply with directions from the U.S. military, CENTCOM said.

The Ateela 2 Oil Tanker boat navigates the sea on Qeshm Island, Iran, in the Strait of Hormuz, on April 28, 2026. Asghar Besharati/Getty Images

The U.S. military command in charge of operations in the Middle East has said it disabled an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman that violated its naval blockade of Iranian ports.

An F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet fired a precision munition into the Palau-flagged M/T Marivex’s engineering and steering areas as it was transiting toward Iran, according to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). The vessel’s crew didn’t comply with directions from the U.S. military, it said.