On November 7, an American military aircraft targeted and disabled a commercial vessel that was attempting to bypass the US blockade of Iran, according to US Central Command.
The cargo ship, flying under the flag of St. Kitts, tried to leave the regional waters after visiting an Iranian port. A US plane used precision weapons to strike its stern after US forces instructed the crew to move away from the targeted areas, Central Command reported.
Following a prolonged naval blockade on Iran, the US military announced that it is establishing a task force aimed at stopping Tehran from moving advanced weapons and other banned materials across its land borders and through the Caspian Sea.
Central Command estimates that this naval blockade has stopped Iran from exporting over $25 billion worth of crude oil.
US President Donald Trump has been hinting at a new offensive against Iran, while Iran has warned of potential retaliation against Gulf infrastructure, increasing tension in the region.