Overview
- On Saturday, Nov. 7, CENTCOM announced the activation of the 'Grupo de Trabajo Puerta de Hierro' and said a U.S. aircraft fired precision munitions to disable the St. Kitts‑flagged M/V Huda in the Gulf of Oman after the ship ignored repeated warnings.
- CENTCOM said the Tampa‑based task force is a roughly 20‑person interagency unit that will coordinate with U.S. agencies to block overland routes and Caspian transit used to move weapons, dual‑use technology and sanctioned goods.
- U.S. forces reported ordering the Huda’s crew to abandon targeted areas before striking the vessel’s stern and described the ship as rendered inoperable after attempting to leave regional waters following a visit to an Iranian port.
- CENTCOM provided broader figures showing the campaign has diverted 147 commercial vessels, disabled five merchant ships, destroyed 10 tankers since July and blocked more than $25 billion in Iranian oil exports.
- Iranian state and local outlets reported explosions in Qeshm, Jask, Sirik and Bandar Abbas that have not been independently verified, and CENTCOM warned mariners to heed blockade notices as the measures raise commercial‑shipping risks and potential for escalation.