CENTCOM Hellfire missile strike disables would-be blockade buster

While a shaky cease fire between the U.S. and Iran continues, so does the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports that was imposed April 13. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reports that, as of June 1, its forces have redirected 121 commercial vessels and disabled five to ensure compliance. The fifth vessel to be disabled was the Gambia-flagged M/V Lian Star. A U.S. aircraft disabled the vessel by firing a Hellfire missile into its engine room, May 29.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces observed M/V Lian Star transiting international waters toward an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman and issued more than 20 warnings while informing the vessel it was in violation of the U.S. blockade. The Hellfire missile strike came after Lian Star’s crew failed to comply.

According multiple sources, Lian Star (IMO 9072692) is a 1993-built general cargo ship that has had multiple name and flag changes over the years.

Reports are that U.S. forces have made no attempt to board the vessel which remains adrift

SELF-DEFENSE STRIKES ON IRAN

In other developments over the weekend, CENTCOM conducted self-defense strikes on Iranian radar and command and control sites for drones in Goruk, Iran and Qeshm Island this weekend.

“The measured and deliberate strikes occurred on Saturday and Sunday in response to aggressive Iranian actions that included the shootdown of a U.S. MQ-1 drone that was operating over international waters,” says CENTCOM. “U.S. fighter aircraft swiftly responded by eliminating Iranian air defenses, a ground control station, and two one-way attack drones that posed clear threats to ships transiting regional waters.”