US Navy Strikes Turkish-Managed Bulk Carrier in Gulf of Oman Over Iran Blockade

The US Navy struck the Turkish-managed bulk carrier Huda over the weekend in the Gulf of Oman, after determining that the vessel was attempting to evade the naval blockade Washington maintains on Iranian ports. US Central Command (Centcom) confirmed the action against the vessel, which was sailing under the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

According to Centcom, the vessel had repeatedly attempted to breach the blockade after departing an Iranian port on November 7, and its crew ignored prior warnings. A US military aircraft fired precision munitions at the vessel's stern to render it inoperable, and US forces ordered the crew to evacuate the affected areas. According to Pole Star Global, the Huda belongs to the Turkish shipping company Embrace Shipping Management.

Over the same weekend, Iran carried out new attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, where, according to Tehran, three tankers were struck for using unauthorized routes. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also reported a fire aboard a tanker 8 nautical miles northwest of Khasab, Oman, whose crew was forced to abandon ship, with no subsequent information available on the vessel's condition or that of its crew. At the same time, Houthi rebels resumed missile attacks against Saudi oil infrastructure.

The figures on the rescues vary depending on the source: Lloyd's List reported that 22 crew members were rescued following the attack on the Huda, while Trade News stated that it was United Arab Emirates authorities who evacuated 22 people from a tanker on fire, describing it as a vessel distinct from the bulk carrier struck by the US Navy.

Centcom specified that since the United States reinstated the blockade in July, its forces have redirected 147 vessels and disabled five merchant ships that refused to comply with its orders, in addition to having previously destroyed 10 tankers linked to Iran's shadow fleet. With this weekend's incidents, eight vessels have now been attacked by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf since early November.