The US continues to attack Iranian ships.

US forces in the Middle East have once again announced that they attacked and neutralized an Iranian-linked oil tanker for violating a US Navy blockade.

An Iranian ship at sea. Photo: Reuters

A statement from the U.S. Central Command for the Middle East (CENTCM) said the attacked vessel was a Botswana-flagged oil tanker named M/T Lexie. The ship was en route to Kharg Island in Iran, in the Persian Gulf.

CENTCOM confirmed that U.S. aircraft were forced to open fire, launching Hellfire missiles into the engine room to disable the ship, after the crew repeatedly ignored warnings from the U.S. Navy. CENTCOM did not disclose the condition of the crew on board after the attack, but emphasized that the Lexie was disabled and unable to continue moving.

This is the sixth commercial vessel attacked and neutralized by the US Navy in regional waters since April 13, when the US imposed a blockade on Iranian ports to pressure Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian officials have not commented on the new announcement from US forces. However, according to regional media, Tehran is likely to retaliate. Previously, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that it had retaliated against all US attacks against the country. Some of these retaliatory attacks by Iran have been confirmed by the media and by US forces themselves.

Source: https://znews.vn/my-tiep-tuc-tan-cong-tau-iran-post1656432.html