The US military fired Hellfire missiles at an oil tanker in the Persian Gulf on July 15, disabling the vessel after it tried to breach the naval blockade of Iranian ports.
US Central Command forces targeted the Curacao-flagged M/T Belma, striking its smokestack after the vessel ignored multiple warnings while approaching Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil export terminal. The tanker was unladen at the time, meaning no oil spill resulted.
What happened and why it matters
The US reimposed its blockade of Iranian ports on April 13, following the collapse of the Islamabad Talks and escalating tensions in the broader 2026 Iran conflict. By mid-July, dozens of vessels had already been intercepted by US naval forces. One prior disabling incident occurred in June, but this marks the first confirmed use of missiles against a tanker.
President Trump has outlined the blockade’s framework, which includes a proposed 20% charge for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply passes through that narrow waterway every single day.
