US Military Disables Oil Tanker Heading to Iran with Hellfire Missile Strike

Tensions in the Middle East have escalated following the announcement by the United States that it has attacked and disabled an unladen oil tanker sailing towards Iran. This action is part of a naval blockade operation launched by Washington in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

The US Central Command (Centcom) stated that US military fighter jets released a single Hellfire missile that directly struck the ship’s engine room. The tanker, identified as the M/T Lexie, flies the flag of Botswana.

According to official statements from Centcom, this decisive action was taken after the ship’s crew repeatedly ignored warnings issued by the US naval fleet. “US forces are enforcing blockade measures against the Botswana-flagged vessel M/T Lexie as it transited international waters towards Kharg Island,” Centcom stated. The command added that the crew failed to comply with directions from US forces multiple times over a 24-hour period.

To support its report, the US military released video footage showing the moment the missile struck the tanker on Tuesday. As of this report, the Iranian government has not issued an official comment or public statement regarding the incident, while the BBC has reportedly reached out to the Botswana government for a response.

The US military blockade on all vessels entering and exiting Iranian ports has been in effect since 13 April. This operation is significantly impacting trade routes in the region. Centcom noted that since the official blockade began, a total of six commercial vessels have been disabled, and 122 other ships have been forced to reroute by US forces after being found in violation of blockade regulations.

Furthermore, the US has intercepted three Iranian oil tankers in Asian waters, extending the blockade as far as the Indian Ocean. These tensions have triggered threats of a global energy crisis due to potential disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.