The US has launched Hellfire missiles at an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command (Centcom) said it had disabled the Belma, a Curacao-flagged merchant vessel, that had been attempting to sail towards Kharg Island by firing a precision missile on Wednesday night. The US agency said that the tanker had ignored multiple warnings before its military was forced to intervene by launching missiles into the ship's smokestack. Wednesday saw the US launch a fifth night of attacks on the Strait of Hormuz as it reimposed a naval blockade of Iran's ports. Washington insists the blockade is aimed at reopening the waterway, which Iran closed last Saturday after a fragile truce collapsed. It comes amid claims that President Donald Trump is considering expanding military operations in Iran. According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump hosted a Situation Room meeting on Tuesday evening, in which he discussed using US troops to seize Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export terminal, and other territory along the strait.The potential bombing of a tunnel complex at Pickaxe Mountain was also discussed at the meeting, which included senior officials such as Vice President JD Vance and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.