The US military attacked an oil tanker named the Belma that was attempting to reach Kharg Island in Iran. According to Centcom, the vessel ignored multiple warnings while attempting to breach a US blockade of Iranian ports. An American aircraft disabled the ship by firing Hellfire missiles at its smokestack. While the ship flew a Curaçaoan flag, the Maritime Authority of Curaçao denied any official registration of the vessel. The Dutch government previously stated that no tankers are listed in the Curaçao register, suggesting the use of fraudulent data. This incident highlights a broader issue involving a "shadow fleet" serving Russia and Iran to evade sanctions. US forces have since resumed blocking ships traveling to or from Iranian coastal areas.