US forces disabled the dry bulk carrier Huda in the Gulf of Oman after it called at an Iranian port, Maritime Executive reported, citing US Central Command. CENTCOM said the vessel had disregarded repeated warnings and made several attempts to breach the US naval blockade before a military aircraft struck its stern on 7 November.
The 24,993 dwt vessel was approximately 18 nautical miles east of Khor Fakkan in the UAE, according to UK Maritime Trade Operations. UKMTO said the crew’s condition was unknown. CENTCOM said it had instructed those aboard to leave the areas selected for attack before the aircraft used precision munitions. Maritime Executive reported that footage released by the military showed an explosion at the stern.
Huda is a 159-metre bulker built in 1999, registered in St Kitts and Nevis and managed from Turkey. Maritime Executive said the ship did not appear to be subject to sanctions. The US account described it as seeking to leave regional waters following its Iranian port call; the report did not identify the port or the vessel’s cargo.
The previous commercial vessel the US reported disabling was Ocean Molica, another bulker struck in the Gulf of Oman on 10 October. In that case, US authorities also said the ship had failed to follow instructions after departing an Iranian port. CENTCOM said 147 commercial vessels had been redirected since the blockade resumed in mid-July. It put the number disabled during the current operation at five, following the earlier destruction of 10 commercial tankers it described as supporting Iran’s oil trade.
The incident followed a rise in reported regional attacks. Maritime Executive cited UKMTO figures showing six confirmed attacks in early November and five in late October. UKMTO’s year-to-date tally covered 133 damaged vessels and 82 injuries or deaths. Separately, Iran has issued daily claims that several vessels encountered mines in the Strait of Hormuz; those claims were distinct from UKMTO’s confirmed incident figures.