On 7 November 2026, the US Armed Forces carried out a strike against the civilian merchant vessel M/V Huda in the Gulf of Oman. An American military aircraft used precision-guided munitions, striking the stern of the vessel and putting it out of action. US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that the crew had repeatedly ignored warnings from the military and attempted to breach the naval blockade of Iran.
How the US military attacked a merchant ship
According to the report CENTCOM, the dry cargo vessel M/V Huda was attempting to leave regional waters after calling at one of Iran’s ports. The vessel was flying the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
The US military claims that the crew was repeatedly warned of the need to comply with the US-imposed naval blockade. However, the ship continued on its course.
Following this, a US military aircraft fired high-precision munitions at the stern of the vessel, as a result of which it was unable to continue its voyage.
Central Command stated that, prior to the attack, the crew had been ordered to evacuate those sections of the ship identified as targets. However, the US military did not specify the number of sailors on board, their condition or the extent of the damage to the vessel.
The US has tightened its naval blockade of Iran
US forces have been monitoring shipping traffic off the Iranian coast for several months now, particularly in Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the key maritime routes for global oil trade. Ships carrying energy resources from the Gulf states to international markets pass through it.
According to CENTCOM, since July the US military has diverted 147 merchant vessels that complied with their demands. A further five ships, whose crews refused to obey orders, were disabled.
The command also announced the destruction of ten oil tankers which, according to the US, were linked to a covert network for the transport of Iranian oil controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. There is no independent confirmation of all the figures cited by the military.
Explosions and damage to tankers have been reported in Iran
Against the backdrop of the US operation, Iranian state media reported on the evening of 7 November that explosions had taken place on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz and at the port of Jask.
At the time of publication, the causes of the explosions remained unknown. CENTCOM spokespeople did not confirm that US military personnel were involved in these incidents.
Separately, the Iranian military stated that two oil tankers had struck sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz and caught fire. The names of the vessels, their countries of registration and their routes were not disclosed. There is no independent confirmation of the circumstances surrounding the incidents.
Trump has confirmed further strikes against Iran
President of the United States Donald Trump On 6 November, it was reported that the US military had carried out limited strikes against Iran’s air defence system.
According to the AP, Trump described the operation as minor. Meanwhile, CENTCOM has not provided any further explanation regarding these strikes.
The armed conflict between the US and Iran has been ongoing for more than eight months. Diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict have so far proved fruitless, and in October the number of attacks on merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz was the highest since March.
As of 8 November, the US command confirmed that the M/V Huda had been disabled. The ship’s future, the condition of the civilian crew and the possible implications for shipping are yet to be clarified.
