US forces disable commercial vessel in Gulf of Oman blockade operation
US military forces struck and disabled a commercial cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman on November 7, 2026, after it allegedly attempted to breach the American naval blockade against Iran, according to a statement issued by US Central Command (CENTCOM).
The St. Kitts-flagged M/V Huda was targeted by a US military aircraft using precision munitions directed at the vessel’s stern. CENTCOM said the action followed repeated warnings that the civilian crew had failed to comply with, as the vessel attempted to leave regional waters after visiting an Iranian port.
Before the strike, US forces instructed the crew to evacuate the sections of the vessel that would be targeted, according to the military statement. CENTCOM confirmed that the ship was disabled but did not provide details about possible casualties, the extent of the damage or the vessel’s subsequent status.
Blockade enforcement continues
The incident forms part of the ongoing US naval blockade against Iran, which American forces have been enforcing since July 2026.
According to CENTCOM, US forces have redirected 147 commercial vessels that complied with blockade instructions, while five merchant ships have been disabled after refusing to comply.
The command also stated that US forces had previously destroyed 10 Iranian commercial oil tankers allegedly linked to a shadow shipping network operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
These figures and the allegations concerning the vessels’ activities are based on US military statements and have not been independently verified.
The latest incident follows an earlier operation on October 10, when CENTCOM reported disabling the Panama-flagged cargo vessel Ocean Molica, also known as Arika Sun, in the Gulf of Oman under similar circumstances.
The continued enforcement actions underscore the operational risks facing commercial vessels navigating waters near Iran, particularly around the approaches to the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM has advised mariners operating near Iranian coastal areas and surrounding waters to comply with blockade warnings issued by US forces.
The military statement did not identify the owner, operator or cargo of Huda, and no independent account of the November 7 incident was available in the sources reviewed.
