The U.S. military announced that it fired upon and stopped an Iranian oil tanker attempting to breach the maritime blockade line in the Gulf of Oman, just outside the Strait of Hormuz.

Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), told the Associated Press, "We neutralized the M/T Labin by firing into its engine room after it attempted to break through the blockade line at least four times in the Gulf of Oman," adding that "warnings were issued to the crew, but they were ignored."

This marks the second instance of an Iranian vessel being blocked since the U.S. military resumed its maritime blockade on the 15th of this month in response to Iran's re-blockading of the Strait of Hormuz, following the interception of the tanker Velma on the same day, which was heading toward Kharg Island, home to an Iranian oil export terminal.

CENTCOM added that it has directed 12 Iranian merchant vessels to alter their courses since the resumption of the maritime blockade.

(Photo: U.S. Central Command X account, Yonhap News)