US Forces Fire Missile Into Engine of Gambian Ship Defying Iran Blockade

U.S. Central Command said it stopped the Gambia-flagged cargo ship Lian Star by firing a missile into its engine room after the vessel ignored more than 20 warnings. The incident occurred overnight Friday as the ship attempted to reach an Iranian port in violation of the U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel remains adrift in the Gulf of Oman and U.S. forces have not boarded it.

This marks the sixth ship the U.S. military has stopped from breaching the blockade. One vessel was permitted to proceed while another 116 ships have been redirected according to U.S. Central Command. The action reflects ongoing enforcement efforts that began when the U.S. launched the blockade on April 17.

The blockade was established in response to Iran effectively closing the strait after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Feb. 28 that started the war in the Middle East. A fragile ceasefire has held since April 7. President Donald Trump met with advisers on Friday but has yet to decide on a proposal to extend the ceasefire by 60 days for talks on Iran's nuclear program.

Events in the Strait of Hormuz have stranded shipments of oil, natural gas and fertilizer. This has increased costs for consumers and food producers worldwide. The U.S. blockade aims to limit Iran's shipments and restrict its access to cash amid the country's weakened economy.

Iran's joint military command stated Saturday that any violation of its regulations will place the security of passage at serious risk. The command warned that military vessels interfering would be targeted. Iran has charged tolls for transit as high as $2 million which experts describe as a violation of freedom of peaceful navigation.

Qatar's deputy prime minister Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani said his country opposes charging fees to transit the strait. He noted that fees for specific uses such as mine clearing could be negotiable for a temporary period. The U.S. has not found or destroyed any mines in the strait according to a U.S. official.

Commercial traffic has continued to flow through the strait at lower volumes despite Iran's assertions that it must approve transits. Iran has said a deal to extend the ceasefire has not been finalized. The Lian Star flew under a Gambian flag and was disabled after failing to heed multiple warnings from U.S. forces.

The latest interdiction underscores how the blockade directly affects energy prices and supply chains that households and businesses rely on daily. A U.S. official with knowledge of the operation spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the military action.

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