What Mattered This Week

GULF OF OMAN — On October 10, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces disabled the Panama-flagged commercial cargo vessel M/V Ocean Molica, also known as the Arika Sun, in the Gulf of Oman after its crew ignored repeated warnings and attempted to run the ongoing U.S. naval blockade against ships entering or departing Iranian ports.

A U.S. military fighter jet struck the stern of the vessel with a precision munition, fully disabling the ship’s propulsion without harming the crew. The large cargo vessel was attempting to transit regional waters after having previously departed an Iranian port, CENTCOM said.

STRAIT OF HORMUZ — United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) received a report on October 10 that the master (Captain) of an outbound tanker was struck on the port side by an unknown projectile within the Strait of Hormuz at 7:20 PM UTC, causing a fire on board.

Crew were reported safe. Damage assessment and environmental impact remained unknown at the time of the report. Vessels were advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO while authorities investigate.

GULF OF AMERICA — Hurricane Isaias is strengthening over the Gulf of America and is forecast to reach the northern Gulf Coast as a strong hurricane late Friday or early Saturday, with a storm surge expected from the Mouth of the Mississippi River to the Suwannee River, Florida.

Isaias had maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a central pressure of 975 mb (975 hPa), and it was moving east-northeast at 10 mph (17 km/h).

UNITED KINGDOM — U.S. European Command said on October 4 that the bombers deployed to RAF Fairford were redeploying to their home stations, and a U.S. Air Force statement the same day said every U.S. bomber that had been deployed there had redeployed to home stations in the United States.

The Air Force statement said operational security had precluded confirmation of the movement in real time. It also said U.S. Air Force bombers routinely operate around the world for readiness and operational requirements.

CARIBBEAN — According to U.S. Southern Command, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere struck a go-fast vessel, a small fast boat, in the Caribbean on October 4.

The command said confirmed intelligence showed the boat was taking part in drug trafficking on routes it called established trafficking routes, and that the strike killed four people it called “narco-terrorists.”