American troops attacked and damaged an additional oil vessel trying to evade their restriction around Iranian harbors this week, according to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which announced on Thursday.
An American aircraft launched two Hellfire missiles into the engine compartment of the ship flying the flag of Guinea-Bissau, according to CENTCOM, following repeated instances where the crew did not follow orders from U.S. military personnel.
This marked the third U.S. attack of the week and the ninth since the embargo started, according to CENTCOM, responsible for managing American military operations in the Middle East.
The attacks on the vessel trying to move oil through the Gulf of Oman took place during early morning hours (approximately 4:20 am CEST) on Thursday, according to CENTCOM.
On early Thursday, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Center noted a tanker blaze located 21 nautical miles north-northeast of Sohar, Oman, as the Indian Embassy in the nation mentioned that the Omani Navy was removing personnel from the vessel.
As stated by the UK-based maritime safety company Vanguard, the oil tanker was carrying 20 personnel onboard.
The most recent U.S. attack came after a comparable operation the previous day near the shores of Oman.
A U.S. military aircraft launched precise weapons into the ship's engine area following multiple instances of the crew not adhering to instructions from American authorities, according to a statement released by the U.S. Central Command on X, which referred to the vessel as the MT Settebello under the Palau flag.
India has called for an urgent meeting with a high-ranking U.S. official in New Delhi on Wednesday to express strong disapproval following the incident that resulted in three Indian seafarers going missing. It has now been verified that the three sailors lost their lives.
On Monday, a U.S. F-18 Super Hornet belonging to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln struck and damaged the vessel MT Marivex, which flies the flag of Palau, in the Gulf of Oman based on similar grounds.
The U.S. armed forces stated that from the beginning of the embargo on April 13, they have "diverted 135 ships that adhered to the rules, and permitted 42 vessels carrying humanitarian assistance to proceed."
The assault marks the most recent in a sequence of rocket and unmanned aerial vehicle attacks targeting merchant vessels in the strait, an area that has remained subject to conflicting maritime restrictions for several months.
Iran halted freighter movement via the vital sea route from the start of the conflict on 28 February, whereas the United States has enforced its own embargo on all Iranian ships and harbors during this period.