This operation is the fourth instance of a commercial vessel being disabled since the U.S. resumed its blockade of Iranian ports on July 14. Over the same three month period, U.S. forces have turned back 135 ships and destroyed 10 tankers linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' shadow network. CENTCOM has advised all mariners in the region to monitor Notice to Mariners broadcasts and use bridge-to-bridge channel 16.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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US Jet Disables Panama Cargo Vessel in Fourth Iran Blockade Hit
War10 days ago
A U.S. military fighter jet struck the stern of the M/V Ocean Molica on Oct. 10 to knock out the vessel's propulsion after the crew ignored warnings in the Gulf of Oman. The Panama-flagged cargo ship, also known as the Arika Sun, had departed an Iranian port and attempted to run a naval blockade, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). The precision strike disabled the ship without causing casualties among the crew.
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