The US military opened fire in the hinterland of the Persian Gulf, and the oil tanker was attacked, triggering the escalation of the “blockade war” in Hormuz

The Zhitong Finance App learned that the US military attacked an oversized tanker deep in the Persian Gulf, close to Iran's key crude oil export terminal. This is the first direct attack on a ship since the US reinstated its shipping blockade against Iraq.

On Thursday morning, the US Central Command posted on social media that a US military fighter launched a missile at the sanctioned and unloaded “Belma” (Belma). Previously, the ship ignored warnings several times and insisted on sailing to Halke Island via international waters, and was found to be in violation of the blockade regulations.

This operation is located in the heart of the Persian Gulf, far from the Strait of Hormuz, or indicates that the US military is expanding the scope of its initial blockade. Previously, the blockade mainly targeted ships trying to cross the interception line set up by the United States in the Gulf of Oman and enter the strait.

Jennifer Park, an adjunct professor at the Institute of Defence and Security at the University of Western Australia, said: “Although this is a new trend implemented within the Persian Gulf, it is still in line with the US side's stated goal of 'blocking all Iranian ports and coastal areas'.”

According to ship tracking data, the “Belmar” sailed north to Halke Island late Wednesday, during which time it first sailed slightly northwest, then quickly turned away from the island after being attacked on Thursday morning.

The attack comes at a time when tension continues to escalate in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters. Iran's recent attack on ships in these waters has forced shipowners to re-evaluate transit plans and push Gulf oil producers and gas producers to review export expansion arrangements. The Director of the International Energy Agency warned that if the conflict blocking the strait is not resolved within a few weeks, the global economy may once again be in jeopardy.

Visible traffic through the Strait remained scarce on Thursday. A liquefied petroleum gas ship sanctioned by the US started a transponder and sailed outward, while another bulk carrier carrying soybean meal and sailed to Iran entered the Persian Gulf. The US Navy said that after reviewing the ship's transit application, it will allow bulk food, medical supplies, and other necessities for the survival of Iranian civilians to be released through the blockade line.

The Central Command said in a post that within 24 hours after the new blockade measures came into effect at 4 p.m. Washington time on Tuesday, the US military had guided two compliant merchant ships to divert and made one illegal ship incapable of navigation.

Khark Island is a key hub for Iran to obtain revenue from crude oil exports. According to statistics from the non-profit organization “American Anti-Nuclear Iran Coalition”, since the signing of the interim peace agreement in mid-June, the island has shipped at least 11 batches of crude oil and petrochemical products. An oversized tanker was sighted loading crude oil on the island of Khark on Wednesday.