A US F-18 attacked and disabled an Iranian-flagged civilian ship in the Gulf of Oman.
“US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces observed M/T Hasna as it transited international waters enroute to an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman,” a statement from CENTCOM published on Wednesday said. “After Hasna’s crew failed to comply with repeated warnings, U.S. forces disabled the tanker’s rudder by firing several rounds from the 20mm cannon gun of a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet launched from USS Abraham Lincoln.”
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 6, 2026
The attack on the Hasna occurred amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. In response to the aggressive US and Israeli war against Iran, Tehran seized control of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has closed the Strait to shipping linked to the US and its allies. A small number of ships from “friendly nations” are allowed to transit the waterway after paying a toll to Tehran.
Trump has responded to Tehran’s control over the Strait by imposing a blockade on ships docking at Iranian ports.
On Monday, the US attempted to break Iran’s hold on the Strait with “Project Freedom.” The operation called for the Navy to assist ships exiting the Persian Gulf. Tehran responded to the operation by attacking two ships attempting to transit the Strait and an energy facility in the UAE. Additionally, Iranian forces fired warning shots at a US warship.
While the shipping war is escalating, Pakistan is attempting to mediate an end to the conflict. On Tuesday, Islamabad said that “significant progress” was made towards ending the war.
