On July 14, 2024, the United States Central Command announced the resumption of a naval blockade of Iranian ports.
On October 10, 2026, CENTCOM issued a statement summarizing the blockade’s enforcement. According to the command, since the blockade’s restart it had turned back 135 ships, disabled four commercial vessels, and destroyed 10 tankers linked to the IRGC’s shadow network.
U.S. jet disables cargo ship running Iran blockade https://t.co/OzavnSfPmU
The following day, October 11, 2026, a Panama-flagged cargo ship identified as M/V Ocean Molica – also known as Arika Sun – was operating in the Gulf of Oman. CENTCOM reported that the vessel’s crew ignored repeated warnings and instructions related to the blockade and attempted to break the blockade.
The munition struck the ship’s propulsion system, completely disabling its power plant and rendering the vessel immobile.
In response, a US military fighter jet employed a precision-guided munition to strike the stern of the Ocean Molica. The munition struck the ship’s propulsion system, completely disabling its power plant and rendering the vessel immobile. CENTCOM emphasized that the crew was not injured in the strike.
After the incident, CENTCOM reminded mariners to heed all blockade warnings and to maintain contact via VHF channel 16.
The Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz are critical routes for global energy supplies. The disabling of the Ocean Molica highlights the rising tensions in the region and the continued enforcement of the US‑led blockade on Iranian ports.