US Military Says It Disabled Oil Tanker Near Iran’s Kharg Island
CENTCOM said the Botswana-flagged tanker, identified as M/T Lexie, was sailing through international waters toward Kharg Island when US forces issued multiple warnings over a 24-hour period directing it to turn away.
The statement claimed the crew did not respond to instructions, prompting US forces to take action. According to reports, a US aircraft ultimately disabled the vessel by striking its engine room with a Hellfire missile, preventing it from continuing its voyage.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the region following ongoing military and maritime confrontations involving the United States and Iran.
According to reports, hostilities escalated after US and Israeli strikes on Iran earlier in the year, followed by Iranian retaliation and increased restrictions on maritime traffic in strategic waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM also stated that it has taken broader maritime enforcement actions in recent weeks, including disabling multiple commercial vessels and redirecting others, as part of ongoing operations linked to the regional security situation.
No independent verification of the incident has been provided, and details from Iranian authorities regarding the tanker were not immediately available.
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