US military destroys Iranian-affiliated ship in Gulf of Oman after evacuating crew

The US military destroyed an Iranian-affiliated dhow in the Gulf of Oman on Wednesday after observing it conducting surveillance and targeting US Navy ships. CENTCOM confirmed crew members were safely removed before the destruction, with repatriation efforts ongoing. The operation follows a recent incident where CENTCOM disabled a Panama-flagged vessel attempting to bypass the US naval blockade of Iranian ports.

The US military destroyed an Iranian-affiliated dhow in the Gulf of Oman on Wednesday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced. The ship was targeted after being observed conducting surveillance and targeting US Navy ships in the area. CENTCOM stated that over the past seven months, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has continued to target thousands of civilian mariners and US Navy warships. Crew members were safely removed before the destruction, and repatriation efforts are ongoing. The operation follows an October 10 incident where CENTCOM disabled a Panama-flagged commercial vessel, the Ocean Molica (also known as the Arika Sun), after its crew ignored warnings and attempted to bypass the US naval blockade of Iranian ports along the Strait of Hormuz. That vessel was struck by a US military fighter jet, disabling its propulsion system without harming the crew.