Overview
- U.S. Central Command said a military aircraft struck the stern of the M/V Huda after crew members ignored repeated warnings and after some crew were ordered to evacuate parts of the ship.
- CENTCOM identified the vessel as the M/V Huda and said it had recently docked at an Iranian port before attempting to depart when U.S. forces intervened.
- The military released footage of the operation but has not disclosed whether anyone on board was injured or what cargo the ship was carrying.
- CENTCOM says 147 commercial vessels have complied with U.S. warnings, five merchant ships that refused to cooperate have been disabled, and U.S. forces have destroyed ten tankers linked to Iran’s clandestine shipping network.
- Officials, including President Donald Trump, said the United States is prepared to carry out further operations, a posture that is likely to affect regional shipping routes, insurance costs, and diplomatic tensions.