What happened

US Central Command said a US aircraft disabled the Curacao-flagged unladen oil tanker M/T Belma by firing Hellfire missiles into its smokestack after the vessel ignored multiple warnings while sailing through international waters toward Kharg Island. CENTCOM described it as the first disabled vessel after the US blockade resumed on 14 July and said it was no longer transiting to Iran. The cited statement did not publish the precise position, damage extent or subsequent disposition; no crew injuries or pollution were reported.

When cited sources give different casualty, damage or spill figures for this event, they’re reported side by side above rather than merged into one number. See how confidence levels work.