US Disables Gambian Merchant Ship with Hellfire Missile in Gulf of Oman

Kuala Lumpur — The United States military has disabled a merchant vessel by firing a Hellfire missile into its engine room in the Gulf of Oman, as part of enforcing a naval blockade against Iran.

The ship, identified as the M/V Lian Star, was flying the Gambian flag and is a small vessel (approximately 1,600 dwt). It was detected sailing in international waters heading toward an Iranian port on May 29. According to a statement from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the vessel ignored more than 20 warnings issued by U.S. forces before action was taken.

A U.S. military aircraft then fired a Hellfire missile that precisely struck the engine compartment, rendering the ship immobile and leaving it adrift in the Gulf of Oman. There are no reports of injuries or fatalities among the crew so far, and the vessel has not yet been boarded by U.S. forces.

This incident is part of ongoing U.S. efforts to enforce the maritime blockade against Iran that began in April. To date, the U.S. has disabled five merchant vessels and diverted 116 others from proceeding to Iran. The blockade aims to weaken Iran’s economy following previous conflicts, even as ceasefire negotiations continue.

The M/V Lian Star was built in 1993 and is reportedly owned by an entity based in the United Arab Emirates. It is a general cargo ship that attempted to enter the restricted area near the Strait of Hormuz.

The U.S. administration under President Donald Trump has stated that the blockade must continue to apply pressure on Iran during nuclear negotiations. However, the action risks escalating tensions in the Gulf region, through which a significant portion of the world’s oil shipments pass via the Strait of Hormuz.

As of now, there has been no official comment from Iran regarding the incident. International observers are closely monitoring developments, as this could impact global oil prices and shipping stability in the region.

This report is compiled based on official CENTCOM statements and international media sources.