
WASHINGTON (Horn Post) — U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Tuesday that American forces disabled a fuel tanker allegedly bound for an Iranian port in the Persian Gulf as part of ongoing efforts to enforce sanctions targeting maritime trade linked to Iran.
In a statement, CENTCOM identified the vessel as the MT Lexie, a Botswana-flagged fuel tanker operating in international waters and reportedly heading toward Iran’s Kharg Island, a major oil export terminal in the Gulf.
According to CENTCOM, the vessel’s crew repeatedly ignored warnings and failed to comply with instructions issued by U.S. forces over a 24-hour period.
The command said a U.S. aircraft subsequently struck the tanker’s engine room with a Hellfire missile, rendering the vessel inoperable and preventing it from reaching Iranian waters.
CENTCOM stated that it would continue enforcing sanctions against vessels traveling to or from Iranian ports, a policy it said has been in effect since April 13.
The development comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran in the Gulf region. A previous U.S. operation targeting an Iranian-linked vessel, identified as the Lion Star, drew a response from Iran.
At the time, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had launched a cruise missile strike against the commercial cargo vessel MSC Sariska near Iraq’s Umm al-Qasr port. Iranian state-affiliated media later released footage that it said showed the missile launch and impact.
The reported maritime incidents underscore ongoing security challenges in the Persian Gulf, a strategic waterway critical to global energy supplies and international shipping.
Prepared by:
Horn post staff
Abdikarim Salah
Abdikarim Saed Salah is a multimedia journalist and international correspondent with over 15 years of professional experience in broadcast journalism, digital media, and political reporting across the Horn of Africa. He is the Founder, Editor and reporter at Horn post Digital News Platform, He is currently based in Hargeisa, Somaliland, where he works as a TV presenter and producer at Horn Cable TV, covering politics, regional security, governance, and international affairs. His reporting focuses on major developments in the Horn of Africa, including geopolitical dynamics, elections, security issues, and diplomatic relations. He is known for producing in-depth interviews, field reporting, and analysis-driven journalism.


