U.S. forces disabled a tanker attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz on July 24, halting what officials described as a deliberate effort to break a regional blockade after the vessel’s crew repeatedly failed to heed warnings.
According to the military, the incident was one of 12 cases in which commercial ships tried to breach the blockade and were forced to turn back or were redirected away from the Strait of Hormuz.
The tanker, identified as the M/T Lavine, was stopped after U.S. forces fired into its engine room, Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for CENTCOM, told the New York Times. “The ship is no longer transiting to Iran,” Hawkins said.
“As of July 25, CENTCOM has redirected 12 commercial vessels trying to run the blockade, disabled 2 that didn’t comply, and boarded 2 to ensure total compliance,” the combat command said in a statement posted on X.
Hawkins said the crew had been clearly warned after four earlier attempts to evade the blockade, underscoring that the tanker was stopped only after repeated noncompliance.
The action comes amid broader uncertainty over U.S. military operations in the region. President Trump called off a major escalation and reportedly paused after the 13th consecutive night of strikes, a decision the New York Times said was linked to concerns over a reduced supply of antimissile interceptors.
In a separate operation, American forces boarded the M/T Charminar in the Arabian Sea for a compliance inspection to determine whether the tanker was carrying prohibited goods. After passing the inspection, the vessel was allowed to continue its voyage.
The military also released video footage showing U.S. naval operations tied to the blockade enforcement efforts.
The approximately 42-second clip posted to X begins on an aircraft carrier flight deck with helicopters preparing for launch.
It then shows armed military personnel fast-roping onto the deck of a commercial tanker at sea.
The name “CHARMINAR” is clearly visible on the vessel’s superstructure as Marines and sailors conduct the verification boarding.
Later segments display black-and-white overhead targeting footage labeled “UNCLASSIFIED” and “M/T LAVINE,” capturing a bright explosion on the tanker’s deck and superstructure after the precision strike to disable the ship.
