US strikes oil tanker with missiles as it enforces new Iran blockade
The US military has attacked an Iranian-linked oil tanker in the Gulf after it ignored warnings while heading toward an export terminal. This strike follows President Trump's decision to reimpose a blockade on Iranian ports amid escalating regional tensions.
Why it matters
The incident marks a significant escalation in US-Iran relations, threatening global oil supply chains and regional stability in the Strait of Hormuz.
Figure caption, US military footage shows strike on ship in the Gulf
The US has attacked an oil tanker in the Gulf, which it said was heading towards Iran's largest oil export terminal, as it reimposed a blockade of Iranian ports.
US Central Command (Centcom) said on Wednesday that Belma "ignored multiple warnings" as it was heading towards the Kharg Island oil terminal and an aircraft disabled the tanker by "firing Hellfire missiles into the ship's smokestack".
President Donald Trump reintroduced a blockade of Iranian ports on Tuesday, in response to a series of alleged Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and days of tit-for-tat strikes by the US and Iran.
He had previously declared a ceasefire "over" following days of escalating attacks.
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