US Military Disables Tanker in Gulf of Oman Attempting to Breach Iran Blockade

The United States military announced early Saturday that it fired upon and disabled another commercial vessel as it attempted to breach the blockade imposed on Iranian ports.

Captain Tim Hawkins, spokesperson for the US Central Command, confirmed that American forces disabled the tanker "Lavine" (M/T Lavine) in the Gulf of Oman on Friday.

In a statement to the Associated Press, the Central Command spokesperson explained that the ship was disabled after making at least four attempts to violate the US naval blockade.

Hawkins added that the vessel's crew received multiple warnings but failed to comply with orders, prompting US military forces to fire at the ship's engine room.

This marks the second commercial vessel disabled since the US military reinstated the blockade on Iran. The Central Command also reported redirecting 12 other ships.