U.S. Warplanes TARGET Iran’s Defiant Tankers

May 11, 2026

U.S. forces just disabled three more Iranian-flagged tankers attempting to breach a naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman, exposing the raw limits of Tehran’s maritime defiance amid fragile ceasefire tensions.

Story Snapshot

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) disabled M/T Sea Star III and M/T Sevda on May 8 by firing precision munitions into their smokestacks from an F/A-18 Super Hornet off USS George H.W. Bush.[1]
Earlier, on May 6, U.S. forces crippled M/T Hasna’s rudder with 20mm cannon fire from an F/A-18 Super Hornet launched from USS Abraham Lincoln after ignored warnings.[1][4]
Over 50 commercial vessels redirected and multiple disabled since the April 13 blockade began, enforcing restrictions on ships entering or exiting Iranian ports.[1][3]
Incidents fuel mutual accusations: U.S. claims blockade compliance, Iran calls actions unprovoked aggression in international waters.[6]
Escalation risks strain regional stability, with both sides trading strikes near the Strait of Hormuz despite ceasefire.[1][6]

Recent Disabling Actions in Gulf of Oman

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces disabled two Iranian-flagged unladen oil tankers, M/T Sea Star III and M/T Sevda, on May 8 before they reached an Iranian port. An F/A-18 Super Hornet from USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) fired precision munitions into their smokestacks. CENTCOM stated the vessels violated the ongoing U.S. blockade after multiple warnings. Both ships ceased transit to Iran.[1]

On May 6, CENTCOM observed M/T Hasna transiting international waters toward an Iranian port in the Gulf of Oman. U.S. forces issued repeated warnings, which the crew ignored. An F/A-18 Super Hornet from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) then fired several 20mm cannon rounds into the tanker’s rudder, halting its progress. The blockade targets all vessels entering or departing Iranian ports impartially.[4]

Blockade Enforcement and Historical Precedent

CENTCOM initiated the naval blockade on April 13 at 10 a.m. ET, per President Trump’s proclamation. It applies to maritime traffic at Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman but spares freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz to non-Iranian ports. Admiral Brad Cooper affirmed full enforcement commitment.[2][3]

Prior actions include USS Spruance (DDG 111) disabling M/V Touska on April 19. After six hours of non-compliance, the destroyer fired 5-inch MK 45 Gun rounds into the engine room following crew evacuation orders. CENTCOM reports over 50 vessels redirected and several disabled to ensure compliance.[1]

Escalating Tensions and Broader Implications

Iranian media counters U.S. claims, framing the incidents as unprovoked attacks on ships exercising freedom of navigation. Reports describe Iranian forces firing missiles at U.S. ships near the Strait of Hormuz in response, alongside seizing vessels. This narrative portrays U.S. actions as aggression breaching a ceasefire.[6]

US forces hit tankers trying to break Iran blockade as military says embargo has stalled 70 ships

The military, which has roughly 15K troops enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports, struck an unknown # of tankers who "attempted to run the blockade. https://t.co/LtbT9KgpCy

— 🇺🇸The REAL Lady De’Plorable🇺🇸 (@LadyRedWave) May 9, 2026

These clashes fit a pattern of U.S.-Iran maritime frictions, with 47 documented warning or disabling fire events since 1984. Mutual accusations risk broader escalation, testing Gulf partners’ support and global energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz. Americans across the political spectrum watch warily as federal commitments abroad strain resources at home, fueling frustrations with elite-driven foreign entanglements over domestic priorities.[1][6]

Conservatives decry past appeasement enabling Iranian threats, while liberals question endless military spending amid inequality. Yet both sides increasingly see a government prioritizing overseas adventures over the American Dream, where hard work yields diminishing returns.[1]