US Fighter Jets Strike Cargo Ship Departing Iranian Port

The US military said it had disabled a commercial cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman. The strike came after the crew ignored warnings and attempted to breach a naval blockade of Iran.

Reuters reported on Sunday (11 October 2026) that the attack took place on Saturday (10 October). The US struck the vessel with a fighter jet.

“An US military fighter jet struck the stern of the Panama-flagged M/V Ocean Molica (also known as ‘Arika Sun’) with precision munitions, completely disabling the vessel’s propulsion system without injuring its crew,” the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement on X.

CENTCOM said the cargo ship had attempted to pass through the area’s waters after departing from an Iranian port. The ship’s operator has not responded.

CENTCOM urged sailors in the Gulf of Oman and in the approaches to the Strait of Hormuz to comply with blockade warnings, monitor information broadcasts for mariners and contact the US Navy. The number of ships crossing the vital strait has fallen to its lowest level in more than two months, following a peak in attacks on tankers last week.

The situation has raised concerns about disruption to shipping and driven up crude oil prices. Before the war broke out, the Strait of Hormuz carried 20 per cent of global oil consumption.