US Central Command struck Iranian-flagged oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman on May 8, 2026, firing precision munitions at vessels that ignored repeated warnings to turn back. The operation represents a significant escalation in Washington’s enforcement of a naval blockade designed to cut off Iranian oil shipments.
CENTCOM confirmed that forces successfully disabled at least two empty tankers, the M/T Sea Star III and the M/T Sevda, by targeting their smokestacks. The strikes neutralized the vessels without sinking them. A third vessel, the M/T Lexie, was also referenced in connection with the operation, though its status remains less clearly verified.
What happened in the Gulf of Oman
US forces used precision munitions, a deliberate choice that allowed them to incapacitate the ships rather than sink them. The smokestacks were the targets, effectively disabling the engines while leaving the hulls intact.
CENTCOM stated that all targeted vessels are no longer en route to Iran. The tankers were reportedly empty at the time of the strikes.
