U.S. Central Command said on social media on the 8th that U.S. forces fired on
an unladen tanker in the Gulf of Oman bound for an Iranian port, disabling it
after the crew refused orders. The Palau-flagged tanker was transiting
international waters toward Iran, CENTCOM said; an F/A-18 Super Hornet from the
carrier Lincoln fired precision-guided weapons to render the vessel inoperable.
CENTCOM said it has enforced a blockade of maritime traffic to Iranian ports
since April 13 and has disabled seven merchant vessels and forced 134 ships to
change course.
