U.S. jet disables cargo ship attempting to breach Gulf of Oman blockade

U.S. Central Command said a U.S. fighter jet struck the stern of the Panama‑flagged M/V Ocean Molica, also known as the “Arika Sun,” on Oct. 10, 2026, disabling the cargo vessel’s propulsion in the Gulf of Oman.

The strike was described as a “precision munition” that fully disabled the ship without harming its crew, according to the CENTCOM statement released on social media Saturday.

CENTCOM said the vessel ignored repeated warnings and attempted to run the American naval blockade that was reinstated on July 14, 2026, after departing from an Iranian port. The command noted the blockade has already forced four commercial ships to stop and has turned 135 vessels around in the three‑month period.

In addition to disabling the Ocean Molica, U.S. forces have destroyed ten tankers linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’s shadow network during the same enforcement window. Mariners operating in the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz have been urged to heed blockade warnings, monitor Notice to Mariners broadcasts, and contact U.S. naval forces on bridge‑to‑bridge channel 16.

President Donald Trump reiterated a diplomatic stance, stating the United States will not attack Iran prior to the upcoming U.S. midterm elections on Nov. 3, while emphasizing that the blockade will remain in effect and that oil flow through the Hormuz Strait continues at record levels.

The incident highlights the ongoing tension over maritime security in the region and signals that U.S. forces will continue to enforce the blockade as long as vessels attempt to breach it.