US military forces fired two Hellfire missiles into the engine room of an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman late on June 10, disabling the vessel after it allegedly attempted to bypass the American blockade on Iranian oil exports. The Guinea-Bissau-flagged MT Jalveer becomes the ninth commercial tanker struck since the blockade began in April 2026.
US Central Command confirmed the strike occurred at 11:20 PM ET. Twenty Indian seafarers were aboard the vessel at the time.
It was the third US strike on a commercial vessel in a single week.
What happened and why it matters
The MT Jalveer was reportedly transporting oil from Iran when it ignored directions from US forces and continued its course. CENTCOM characterized the strike as part of ongoing operations to enforce the Iranian port blockade.
