US forces disabled a St Kitts-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman on Saturday, 7 November, after it tried to break the US naval blockade of Iran, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said, according to Reuters as published by gCaptain.
CENTCOM said the commercial vessel had called at an Iranian port and was trying to leave regional waters. It said the civilian crew ignored repeated warnings and tried several times to violate the blockade. US forces first told the crew to leave the targeted spaces, and a US military aircraft then fired precision munitions at the ship’s stern. The ship has not been named in the reports seen by Maritime News, and no casualties have been reported.
Months-long blockade
- CENTCOM estimates the blockade has stopped Iran exporting more than $25 billion worth of crude oil.
- It has also announced a task force to curb Iran’s movement of advanced weapons and sanctioned materials over land borders and across the Caspian Sea.
- US President Donald Trump has threatened a new offensive against Iran, while Tehran has threatened wide retaliation against Gulf infrastructure.
Why it matters for Bangladesh
The conflict around Iran and the Strait of Hormuz has already pushed up freight and war-risk insurance costs and disrupted LNG deliveries to Bangladesh. Seafarers, including Bangladeshi crew on foreign-flagged ships, face rising risks in the region.
Source: Reuters via gCaptain, 7 November 2026, citing CENTCOM. Photo: file image of a US Navy destroyer in the Gulf of Oman (2009), not the vessels involved.
