US fighter jet disables cargo ship in Gulf of Oman blockade

United States forces disabled a commercial cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman on Saturday, October 10, 2026, according to Al Jazeera. US Central Command stated that the vessel tried to run an active naval blockade against Iran after leaving an Iranian port. [1]

Al Jazeera, The Jerusalem Post, The Times of India, and News18 all reported on the military strike against the merchant vessel in the Gulf of Oman. A US fighter jet fired a precision munition that hit the stern of the ship, according to Al Jazeera. The strike fully disabled the vessel's propulsion system without causing harm to the crew. [1][2][3][4]

Al Jazeera identified the vessel as the Panama-flagged M/V Ocean Molica, which is also known as the Arika Sun. Military officials said the action was taken after the crew ignored repeated warnings while attempting to navigate regional waters. [1]

The enforcement action comes amid ongoing military conflict involving Iran. Ships have faced attacks and damage during the 2026 war, which began after coordinated US and Israeli airstrikes targeted Iranian leadership in Tehran earlier in the year. [6][7]