U.S. Central Command said it disabled the empty, Curaçao-flagged tanker M/T Belma as it sailed toward Iran's main oil terminal. A U.S. aircraft fired Hellfire missiles into the ship's smokestack after the vessel ignored repeated warnings, stopping its progress.
U.S. Central Command confirmed at 08:27 Jerusalem that it disabled the empty, Curaçao-flagged tanker M/T Belma by firing Hellfire missiles into its smokestack after the vessel ignored repeated warnings while sailing toward Iran's Kharg Island. The method of disablement was not specified in earlier reports.
The Zioneer first reported the incident at 00:17 Jerusalem, citing Israeli news outlet N12, that a tanker was disabled near Kharg Island. In a series of updates throughout the night, CENTCOM confirmed the use of missile fire, described the vessel as an empty tanker attempting to breach the blockade, and by 00:17 identified the vessel as the Belma and the use of Hellfire missiles. At 07:46 Jerusalem, The Zioneer published a bulletin citing the same details. The current update provides the official CENTCOM statement, corroborating the earlier reports.
The U.S. naval blockade on Iran, enforced by CENTCOM, began on April 13. As of mid-June, CENTCOM had reported eight vessels disabled in the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz. The Zioneer previously reported on interdictions of the M/T Settebello on June 10 and other vessels.
No further details have been released about the Belma's crew, origin, or ultimate destination beyond its attempt to reach Kharg Island. The tanker was reported empty, and its progress toward Iran has been stopped.
6 developments
- StrongUS CENTCOM disables oil tanker for second consecutive day in Gulf of Oman
- DevelopingCENTCOM strikes oil tanker attempting to breach blockade in Strait of Hormuz
- StrongCENTCOM announces new wave of strikes across Iran after drone hits oil tanker
- DevelopingUS Central Command releases footage of disabling Iranian-affiliated vessel
Source and signal
- Internal intake