The U.S. Navy disabled an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman late Tuesday night, shortly after conducting retaliatory strikes in Iran in response to the downing of an Army Apache helicopter. The crew of the Palau-flagged M/T Settebello did not comply with orders from U.S. forces, leading to the use of precision munitions to disable the ship's engine room.
This incident marks the eighth occurrence since the Navy initiated a counterblockade of Iranian ports in mid-April, successfully redirecting over 130 vessels that complied with its orders. The Navy had also disabled the M/T Marivex the previous day while it was in international waters heading towards Iran.
On the same day, U.S. forces executed multiple strikes targeting Iranian air defense systems, ground control stations, and surveillance radar sites near the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump stated in the Oval Office that the U.S. had conducted significant strikes and hinted at the possibility of further actions against Iran.
Trump claimed that the U.S. had removed millions of barrels of oil from Iranian control, stating that 22 ships had been taken out at night without detection. U.S. Central Command confirmed that its retaliatory actions against Iran had been completed, although Trump's comments suggested that additional strikes could occur.
The Apache helicopter incident involved two pilots who were rescued after the aircraft was reportedly hit by an Iranian drone. They are currently in stable condition. This rescue was notable as it was the first U.S. military operation utilizing a drone boat for such a mission.
Trump commented on the situation, indicating that the downing of the helicopter was not a significant issue. He also expressed frustration over the negotiations with Iran, suggesting that previous U.S. administrations had been ineffective in dealing with the country.