U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) disabled the Palau-flagged oil tanker M/T Settebello in the Gulf of Oman after the crew ignored repeated warnings. A precision munition struck the engine room, the military says. The same vessel was targeted two days ago in the same area.
On the night of June 9, at 23:14 local time, U.S. Central Command disabled the M/T Settebello in the Gulf of Oman—the second time this vessel has been interdicted in two days, according to a CENTCOM statement circulated via Israeli security channels. A U.S. aircraft fired a precision munition into the ship's engine room after the crew repeatedly failed to comply with American directives. CENTCOM described the vessel as a Palau-flagged oil tanker attempting to run the ongoing naval blockade by transporting oil from Iran. This is the same tanker that was targeted on June 8, when a U.S. Navy jet struck the ship's steering and propulsion systems in the same maritime area, as The Zioneer reported. The previous interdiction occurred when the vessel was empty and attempting to proceed to Iran. The June 9 action suggests the ship resumed operations despite the earlier damage. The sequence of interceptions underscores the sustained U.S. naval effort to enforce the blockade on Iranian oil shipments in the Strait of Hormuz and the broader Gulf region. CENTCOM has not provided details on the extent of damage from the second strike or the status of the crew.
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