In a significant escalation of maritime enforcement, the US military reported on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, that it fired a Hellfire missile at a Botswana-flagged vessel identified as the M/T LEXIE. The operation took place near the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz as the tanker was reportedly making its way toward Iran.
According to the US Central Command, the strike specifically targeted the vessel's engine room, effectively disabling the ship. Officials stated that the action was taken after the crew consistently ignored repeated warnings to change course or comply with instructions.
The intensity of the encounter was captured in radio communications recordings. These audio logs reveal a US military aircraft addressing the LEXIE shortly before the strike. Reports indicate that following the missile hit, the crew abandoned the stranded vessel, leaving it adrift in the region.
The M/T LEXIE is not a new target for US authorities. The tanker had previously been added to the sanctions list of the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control in March 2025. The vessel was flagged for its alleged involvement in the illicit Iranian oil trade, a key point of contention in ongoing economic and political tensions in the region.
For global investors and maritime analysts, this incident underscores the heightened risks and volatility surrounding shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global energy supplies. The precision strike highlights the US military's willingness to use kinetic force to enforce sanctions and disrupt suspected Iranian oil shipments.
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US says it fired missile at Iran-linked tanker near Strait of Hormuz
cgtn.com
