US Military Disables Commercial Ship in Gulf of Oman After Blockade Breach Attempt

United States Central Command said late Saturday that its forces disabled a commercial ship in the Gulf of Oman after the vessel ignored multiple warnings and attempted to leave the region following a call at an Iranian port. The ship was flagged in St. Kitts, according to the command's statement.

The incident is the latest in a series of maritime confrontations linked to the US naval blockade on Iran, which Washington has enforced for months in and around the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway is one of the world's most important shipping lanes, carrying a large share of global oil exports. The last confirmed US strike on a cargo vessel occurred nearly a month earlier in the Gulf of Oman.

The disclosure comes amid questions about the transparency of US military reporting in the region. According to the account, Central Command has on at least two occasions not announced strikes it carried out, and officials at the command declined to confirm operations when asked about local reports of explosions.

Separately, Iranian state media reported explosions on Qeshm Island near the Strait of Hormuz and in the port of Jask on Saturday evening. The cause was not immediately clear, and the US military did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Associated Press. Iran's military said two tankers struck mines in the Hormuz area and caught fire, without identifying their flags or destinations.

The developments follow remarks by US President Donald Trump on Friday that American forces had carried out new limited strikes against Iran targeting an air defense system, which he described to reporters as "minor." Central Command did not comment on the action even after Trump confirmed it. Trump has said for weeks that he was weighing a new wave of strikes after the US midterm elections held on November 3.

The region and international markets have been watching closely for signs that the US might resume full-scale operations against Iran for the first time in almost two months. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains a key concern for global energy supplies and trade.

Central Command said the disabled vessel had been boarded or otherwise rendered unable to continue its voyage after the warnings were disregarded. Further details on the ship's crew and cargo were not immediately available.