A cargo vessel flying the Gambian flag has been disabled by the United States military after allegedly failing to comply with repeated warnings while sailing toward an Iranian port, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM).
The vessel, identified as the M/V Lian Star, was struck on May 29 after its crew reportedly ignored more than 20 warnings issued by US forces enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports.
CENTCOM said a US aircraft fired a Hellfire missile into the ship’s engine room, leaving the vessel unable to continue its voyage.
“A US aircraft disabled the vessel by firing a Hellfire missile into the ship’s engine room after Lian Star’s crew failed to comply. The ship is no longer transiting to Iran,” CENTCOM said in a statement posted on X.
The US military did not disclose the ship’s ownership, the nature of its cargo, or whether any crew members were injured during the operation.
The incident has drawn attention because the vessel was operating under the Gambian flag, placing The Gambia’s maritime registry in the spotlight amid rising tensions in the Gulf region.
It remains unclear whether the ship is owned by Gambian interests or is one of many foreign-operated vessels registered under The Gambia’s flag. Like several countries with open shipping registries, The Gambia allows international ship owners to register vessels under its flag.
CENTCOM said the action was part of broader efforts to enforce a maritime blockade against Iran.
According to the US military, five commercial vessels have been disabled and 116 others redirected since the blockade began, despite a ceasefire currently in effect between Washington and Tehran.
The development comes as negotiations continue over the future of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global trade route through which a significant portion of the world’s oil and gas supplies pass.
There has been no immediate reaction from Gambian authorities regarding the incident.
The disabling of a Gambian-flagged vessel in an international military operation is likely to raise questions about maritime regulation, vessel registration and the responsibilities associated with flag-state status.
With reporting from AFP.
