US Launches 1900 GMT Iran Strikes, Disables M/T Belma in Hormuz
Updated
Updated · Post Magazine · Jul 16
US Launches 1900 GMT Iran Strikes, Disables M/T Belma in Hormuz
3 articles · Updated · Post Magazine · Jul 16
Summary
US Central Command said a new wave of strikes began at 1900 GMT on Wednesday, targeting Iranian military capabilities used to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Hellfire missiles fired into the Curacao-flagged, empty M/T Belma’s smokestack disabled the tanker after it tried to break the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, CENTCOM said.
Donald Trump paired the attacks with a warning that the United States could widen its campaign unless Iran returns to talks.
Iranian state media reported explosions in Bandar Abbas, Rask, Chabahar and Bushehr, extending the pressure to areas including the city hosting Iran’s only civilian nuclear plant.
Is Iran's demand to control the Strait of Hormuz a negotiating tactic or a new reality for global trade?
With Iran rebuilding its drone arsenal in months, can expensive Western air defenses win a long-term war of attrition?
With 70% of its population in poverty, can Iran's economy withstand a prolonged conflict against the United States?
July 2026 U.S.-Iran Naval Blockade: Enforcement Actions, Oil Price Surge, and Global Shipping Disruption
Overview
On July 15, 2026, U.S. Central Command forces disabled the oil tanker M/T Belma as a direct enforcement of the naval blockade against Iran, which began on July 13, 2026. This action followed a series of escalating events: Iran’s military targeted commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting U.S. attacks on Iran over the preceding weekend. The blockade and enforcement actions like the Belma incident reflect the U.S. government’s effort to hold Iran accountable for its attacks on shipping, continuing a pattern of U.S. strikes on Iranian military targets in recent weeks.