CENTCOM says the jet focused the rudder of M/T Hasna within the Gulf of Oman with its M61 Vulcan cannon to forestall it from reaching Iran as a part of the U.S. blockade.
In line with the official assertion from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the engagement happened at 09:00 Japanese Time (14:00 UTC) on Might 6, 2026. U.S. forces noticed the 333 metre oil tanker M/T Hasna, which sails below an Iranian flag, making means within the Gulf of Oman in direction of Iranian ports.
After ignoring a number of warnings, the vessel was focused by an F/A-18 Tremendous Hornet working from the usAbraham Lincoln (CVN 72). The U.S. claims the assault disabled the ship’s rudder and as such it’s now not in a position to full its transit to Iran.
Plane provider USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) is among the many giant contingent of U.S. warships, plane, and personnel absolutely implementing the U.S. naval blockade towards Iran. Thus far, 52 business vessels have been directed to show round or return to port to be able to comply. pic.twitter.com/YtP3EC47Vt
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) Might 6, 2026
The U.S. has formally enforced a naval blockade towards Iran since Apr. 13, 2026, though the beforehand agreed ceasefire between the 2 nations stays in drive. A lot of vessels are believed to have been in a position to breach this blockade, though the U.S. has publicly interdicted a number of vessels and claims many extra have been pressured to desert their journeys to Iran. So far as is publicly recognized, this new incident is the primary case of an plane getting used to straight disable a ship as a part of the blockade motion.
After shadowing for six hours and issuing a number of warnings, 🇺🇸USS Spruance opened fireplace together with her 5-inch MK 45 Gun on sanctioned 🇮🇷Iranian container ship MV Touska that refused to cease whereas inbound Bandar Abbas, Iran.
At the very least 3 rounds fired into the engine room, stopping the… pic.twitter.com/Pf9tjTwpwi
— Navy Lookout (@NavyLookout) April 20, 2026
M/T Hasna was assessed by U.S. forces as being unladen on the time, most certainly meaning to load up with oil from an Iranian port. This might have been a key a part of the danger evaluation undertaken earlier than approving the usage of kinetic weaponry towards the vessel.
U.S. Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth maintained in a press convention on Might. 5 that the ceasefire stays in impact regardless of an uptick in offensive actions. Earlier within the week, U.S. navy helicopters engaged and destroyed as many as six small watercraft belonging to Iran as a part of ongoing efforts to guard civilian delivery and allied navy vessels. Admiral Brad Cooper, Commander of CENTCOM, stated: “We had drone launches towards business ships, all of which have been defended towards, according to our dedication, after which the small boats have been all going towards business ships, and all have been sunk by Apaches and Seahawk helicopters.”
A day earlier than, President Donald Trump introduced ‘Undertaking Freedom’, which he claims will preserve a defensive umbrella to guard business vessels as they transit the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint.
This text considerations a growing story and could also be up to date as and when new particulars can be found.
