US Fighter Jet Strikes Blockade-Breaching Cargo Ship as Tankers Burn in Strait of Hormuz

A US fighter jet targeted and disabled a cargo ship attempting to breach Washington’s blockade of Iran, coinciding with a tanker catching fire in the volatile Strait of Hormuz where regional forces have launched attacks.

US Central Command (Centcom) reported that the jet used a precision munition on Saturday to strike the stern of the Panama-flagged Ocean Molika—also known as the Arika Sun—after its crew repeatedly ignored warnings. According to a Centcom statement released on Sunday, the vessel had departed an Iranian port and sought to navigate regional waters in direct defiance of the blockade. Fortunately, no crew members sustained injuries.

Video footage published by Centcom captured a massive explosion erupting from the ship, releasing a thick plume of smoke that obscured the vessel. This incident marks a significant escalation in a military campaign that initially involved turning away ships but has now escalated to live-fire enforcement. Since the blockade was reinstated on July 14, US forces claim to have disabled four commercial vessels and redirected 135 others, affecting all ships entering or leaving Iranian ports.

The strike on the Ocean Molika unfolds as commercial vessels traversing the same waters face mounting threats from projectiles, fires, and reported mines. While the exact causes of these incidents remain unverified, they highlight the escalating perils within the critical waterway.

In a separate incident, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) stated that an outbound tanker was hit by an unidentified projectile in the Strait of Hormuz late Saturday night, triggering a fire on board. All crew members were confirmed safe. Additionally, UKMTO reported a separate event involving a tanker and military forces in the Gulf of Oman, though the advisory issued on Sunday provided minimal details and noted that investigation efforts were ongoing.

Meanwhile, the Navy of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed that a crude oil supertanker caught fire after hitting a naval mine while trying to exit the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC Navy stated via Fars news agency that the vessel entered a designated high-risk zone prior to the powerful blast, though this claim could not be independently verified.

Addressing yet another maritime emergency, the UAE National Guard Command announced the successful rescue of 22 people from an oil tanker in the Arabian Gulf following an onboard fire. A specialized coastguard team located the vessel, evacuated the crew, and administered first aid before transferring them to relevant authorities in stable medical condition.