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U.S. jet strikes Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman

Military action targets vessels accused of breaching a naval blockade before reaching Iranian ports

U.S. jet strikes Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman– A U.S. military aircraft opened fire on two Iranian-flagged oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, targeting the vessels before they could reach Iranian ports, according to a statement released by U.S. Central Command (Centcom).

The operation, disclosed in a post on X, involved an F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet, which used precision munitions to disable the ships. Centcom said the strikes were directed at the tankers’ smokestacks, a deliberate move intended to render the vessels inoperable without sinking them.

Targeted strike on empty vessels

According to the U.S. military, both tankers were empty at the time of the strike. The action was carried out “before they entered an Iranian port in the Gulf of Oman,” Centcom said, framing the operation as an enforcement measure.

No further details were provided on potential damage, crew conditions, or the current status of the vessels.

Alleged breach of naval blockade

Centcom stated that the ships were intercepted in violation of an existing naval blockade, though it did not specify the legal framework or operational scope of the restriction cited.

The intervention underscores ongoing tensions in the region’s strategic waterways, where commercial shipping routes intersect with military oversight and enforcement measures.

No additional information has been released regarding follow-up actions or responses from Iranian authorities.

(Photo: © EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, ALASKA, UNITED STATES – 04.29.2026 by Lance Cpl. Bryan Giraldo – 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing)

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