US Central Command (Centcom) has announced that it struck two Iranian-flagged oil tankers, alleging they were attempting to breach the US blockade near the Gulf of Oman. In a statement released on social media, Centcom claimed that US forces disabled the vessels M/T Sea Star III and M/T Sevda on May 8, just before they entered an Iranian port, in what it described as a violation of the ongoing US blockade.
Details of the Incident
According to Centcom, precision munitions were fired into the smokestacks of both tankers, effectively disabling them. The statement further noted that a third Iranian-flagged vessel had been disabled earlier on Wednesday. Centcom emphasized that all three vessels are no longer en route to Iran.
Iran's Response
On Thursday, Iran accused the United States of violating the ceasefire by targeting two ships at the Strait of Hormuz and attacking civilian areas. However, the US insisted that the strikes were carried out in retaliation.
The US military released a photograph showing the operation, which it said was part of efforts to enforce the blockade. The incident underscores ongoing tensions between the two nations in the region.
