VIDEO: U.S. hits blockade-violating tanker Jalveer with two Hellfire missiles

Screengrab from YouTube video

CENTCOM reports that U.S. forces disabled the Guinea-Bissau flagged oil tanker M/T Jalveer in the Gulf of Oman at 11:20 p.m. ET on June 10 after the vessel violated the blockade against Iran by attempting to transport Iranian oil, marking the third commercial ship disabled by American forces this week and the ninth since the blockade was imposed in mid-April.

A U.S. aircraft fired two Hellfire missiles into the Jalveer’s engine room after the crew repeatedly failed to comply with directions from U.S. forces.

The Times of India reports that the incident occurred near Shinas, Oman and that all 20 Indian seafarers on board the Jalveer were safe and were being evacuated.

Earlier this week, U.S. aircraft disabled the M/T Marivex and M/T Settebello on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. Marivex violated the blockade by attempting to sail to an Iranian port and Settebello attempted to transport Iranian oil.

According to a Reuters report, three Indian seafarers on board the Settebello were killed in the attack and the Indian Foreign Ministry summoned the U.S. charge d’affaires in New Delhi to “express its its deepest concerns over the ongoing attacks.”