CENTCOM says the jet targeted the rudder of M/T Hasna in the Gulf of Oman with its M61 Vulcan cannon to prevent it from reaching Iran as part of the U.S. blockade.
According to the official statement from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the engagement took place at 09:00 Eastern Time (14:00 UTC) on May 6, 2026. U.S. forces observed the 333 metre oil tanker M/T Hasna, which sails under an Iranian flag, making way in the Gulf of Oman towards Iranian ports.
After ignoring several warnings, the vessel was targeted by an F/A-18 Super Hornet operating from the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). The U.S. claims the attack disabled the ship’s rudder and as such it is no longer able to complete its transit to Iran.
Aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) is among the large contingent of U.S. warships, aircraft, and personnel fully enforcing the U.S. naval blockade against Iran. So far, 52 commercial vessels have been directed to turn around or return to port in order to comply. pic.twitter.com/YtP3EC47Vt
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 6, 2026
The U.S. has officially enforced a naval blockade against Iran since Apr. 13, 2026, although the previously agreed ceasefire between the two nations remains in force. A number of vessels are believed to have been able to breach this blockade, although the U.S. has publicly interdicted several vessels and claims many more have been forced to abandon their journeys to Iran. As far as is publicly known, this new incident is the first case of an aircraft being used to directly disable a ship as part of the blockade action.
After shadowing for 6 hours and issuing multiple warnings, 🇺🇸USS Spruance opened fire with her 5-inch MK 45 Gun on sanctioned 🇮🇷Iranian container ship MV Touska that refused to stop while inbound Bandar Abbas, Iran.
At least 3 rounds fired into the engine room, stopping the… pic.twitter.com/Pf9tjTwpwi
— Navy Lookout (@NavyLookout) April 20, 2026
M/T Hasna was assessed by U.S. forces as being unladen at the time, most likely intending to load up with oil from an Iranian port. This would have been a key part of the risk assessment undertaken before approving the use of kinetic weaponry against the vessel.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth maintained in a press conference on May. 5 that the ceasefire remains in effect despite an uptick in offensive actions. Earlier in the week, U.S. military helicopters engaged and destroyed as many as six small watercraft belonging to Iran as part of ongoing efforts to protect civilian shipping and allied military vessels. Admiral Brad Cooper, Commander of CENTCOM, said: “We had drone launches against commercial ships, all of which were defended against, consistent with our commitment, and then the small boats were all going against commercial ships, and all were sunk by Apaches and Seahawk helicopters.”
A day before, President Donald Trump announced ‘Project Freedom’, which he claims will maintain a defensive umbrella to protect commercial vessels as they transit the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint.
This article concerns a developing story and may be updated as and when new details are available.