WASHINGTON D.C June 2, 2026 (Life News Agency) — U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) released dramatic footage Tuesday showing a precision Hellfire missile strike that disabled a Botswana-flagged oil tanker attempting to reach Iran’s Kharg Island oil terminal, the latest action in an ongoing U.S. maritime blockade of Iranian ports.
The unladen vessel, identified as the M/T Lexie, ignored repeated warnings over nearly 24 hours while transiting international waters, according to CENTCOM. A U.S. aircraft fired the missile directly into the ship’s engine room, halting its progress without reported crew injuries.
The video, captured in night-vision or infrared, shows the tanker from above as the missile impacts, producing a bright flash, explosion, and plume of smoke rising from the stern/engine area. CENTCOM described the operation as a measured enforcement of the blockade.
The U.S. imposed the naval blockade on April 13, 2026, following the collapse of peace talks aimed at ending the 2026 Iran conflict. The measure targets all maritime traffic entering or exiting Iranian ports to pressure Tehran amid stalled nuclear negotiations and regional tensions.
CENTCOM stated this marks the sixth vessel disabled since the blockade began, with 122 others redirected. Officials emphasized that the action occurred in international waters and followed multiple failed attempts to communicate directives to the crew.
No immediate comment came from Iran on the incident. A distress call reportedly captured from the vessel mentioned fire in the engine room and crew abandoning ship.
The strike comes hours after Kuwait intercepted Iran-backed missiles and drones targeting U.S. bases in the country, with no casualties reported. A fragile ceasefire has held since early April, but enforcement of the blockade continues to heighten risks in the strategic Strait of Hormuz region.
U.S. officials have framed the blockade as necessary to prevent Iran from using oil exports to sustain its position, while maintaining freedom of navigation for non-Iranian traffic.
This incident underscores the delicate balance in the Persian Gulf, where any escalation could impact global energy markets. Further details on the tanker’s ownership or destination cargo were not immediately available.
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