The United States struck a commercial ship attempting to breach its naval blockade on Iran, the US military announced on Sunday. According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the cargo vessel attempted to depart regional waters after visiting an Iranian port before precision munitions fired from a US military aircraft struck its stern. A video published by CENTCOM shows an explosion on the stern of the M/V Huda following the strike, after the civilian crew disregarded repeated warnings. Meanwhile, authorities in the United Arab Emirates stated that 22 individuals were rescued following a fire aboard a vessel in the Gulf of Oman.
The Situation in the Strait of Hormuz
The naval blockade imposed by the United States on Iran has been active for months, designed to pressure Tehran into lifting its own blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s blockade of the critical waterway—through which one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies passed prior to the outbreak of the war in late February—triggered a spike in worldwide energy prices. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards reported that three non-compliant oil tankers caught fire while transiting the strait. Tehran frequently targets vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz without its authorization.
Aramco Facility Damaged in Missile Attack
In a separate escalation across the Middle East, conflict persisted between Saudi Arabia and Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. Saudi officials reported the interception of incoming missiles targeted at Riyadh on Sunday. Falling debris from the intercepted projectiles damaged a structure belonging to the state-owned oil enterprise Aramco. Witnesses told the Associated Press that while no injuries occurred, several floors of the building suffered severe damage. Saudi authorities blamed the Houthi militant group for firing two ballistic missiles and two cruise missiles, though the rebels have not yet claimed responsibility for the strike. On Saturday, Houthi representatives stated that 33 people died in Saudi-led airstrikes targeting the rebel-controlled Yemeni capital of Sanaa.
The M/V Huda’s civilian crew ignored repeated warnings from the US military prior to the strike off the coast of Iran.
