US Central Command said on Tuesday that its forces fired a Hellfire missile into another commercial ship, marking the second such incident in recent days as the US continues to attack civilian ships to enforce a blockade on Iranian ports.
“US Central Command (CENTCOM) enforced blockade measures against Botswana-flagged M/T Lexie as it transited international waters toward Kharg Island,” CENTCOM said.
“The ship’s crew ignored repeated warnings, failing to comply with directions from US forces multiple times over a 24-hour period. A US aircraft ultimately disabled the vessel by firing a Hellfire missile into the ship’s engine room, preventing the tanker from reaching Iran,” the command said, adding that its forces have “disabled” a total of six commercial ships so far.
The incident came after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that it attacked the MSC Sariska, a Panamanian-flagged ship it claimed was affiliated with the US and Israel, though the MSC shipping company said the vessel was not associated with either country.
The IRGC said the attack on the Sariska was in response to the last US attack on a commercial ship, which occurred on May 29 and also involved a US aircraft firing a Hellfire missile, suggesting it will respond to the latest US missile strike.
The US has also launched several rounds of airstrikes against Iran over the past two weeks, and Iran has begun responding by firing missiles at a US air base in Kuwait. Each incident risks being the spark that could plunge the region back into full-blown war.
