The US military attacked an empty oil tanker in the Persian Gulf, claiming the vessel was heading toward an Iranian port, thereby violating US naval blockade measures.
On Thursday, 16 Jul 2026, the US military fired missiles at an oil tanker in the Persian Gulf, stating the ship was headed to Iran's largest oil export terminal, which constituted a breach of the US military blockade designed to prevent ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports.
US Central Command (Centcom) stated that the ship “Belma” ignored multiple warnings while heading to the oil shipping port on Kharg Island, prompting fighter jets to intercept the tanker by firing Hellfire missiles at its smokestack, disabling the vessel.
According to MarineTraffic, which monitors maritime movements, the Belma entered the Persian Gulf on Tuesday after passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Reports indicated the ship was empty and its last position signal was recorded on Thursday about 100 kilometers southeast of Kharg Island.
In addition to attacking the Belma, Centcom said it successfully rerouted two other commercial vessels that complied with orders to change course.
This US action followed President Donald Trump's announcement on Tuesday to reinstate naval blockade measures after accusing Iran of multiple attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, sparking renewed US military strikes and several days of retaliatory exchanges.
Previously, the US had enforced naval blockade measures against Iran from 13 Apr to 18 Jun, including an oil embargo, which were temporarily suspended under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by both parties on 17 Jun.
However, the US president had earlier declared that the ceasefire between the two sides "has ended" and expressed no expectation of negotiations with Iran, placing the prospects for peace talks in renewed uncertainty.
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Source:bbc