A U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet struck and disabled the Palau-flagged oil tanker M/T Marivex in the Gulf of Oman on Feb. 28, 2024 [1, 6].

The strike underscores the U.S. military's willingness to use kinetic force to enforce maritime blockades and restrict the flow of goods to Iran. This escalation in the Gulf of Oman highlights the volatile security environment surrounding critical energy shipping lanes.

The aircraft, which launched from the USS Abraham Lincoln [6], used a precision munition to target the vessel [2, 3]. The hit disabled the ship's steering and engineering spaces, and ignited a fire [1, 2, 3]. The incident occurred off the Musandam peninsula of Oman [1, 2].

U.S. officials said the tanker violated a blockade of Iranian ports [1, 2]. According to officials, the vessel ignored repeated commands from the U.S. military and posed a safety risk to navigation [1, 2].

Following the strike, 24 Indian crew members were evacuated from the ship [2]. Reports on casualties vary, though one source said that four crew members were injured [1, 3].

The M/T Marivex remained disabled following the engagement [1, 2]. The U.S. Navy has not released further details regarding the specific nature of the cargo, or the final destination of the Palau-flagged vessel [1].

“The hit disabled the ship's steering and engineering spaces and ignited a fire.”

This operation demonstrates a shift toward more aggressive enforcement of maritime restrictions in the Gulf of Oman. By targeting a commercial vessel's propulsion and steering rather than sinking it, the U.S. military achieved a strategic objective—stopping the ship—while minimizing the risk of a total environmental disaster from an oil spill. The involvement of a multinational crew also adds a layer of diplomatic complexity to the incident.