US military forces disabled an oil tanker near Iran’s border after firing into its engine room, according to a report published on July 25, 2026. The incident occurred amid concerns that the conflict could spread beyond Iran’s boundaries and develop into a regional war.

US Central Command spokesman and Navy Captain Tim Hawkins told Al Jazeera that the tanker’s crew tried at least four times to move forward through an imposed blockade. He said the crew ignored repeated warnings and orders, prompting US forces at the scene to fire at the vessel’s engine room. The tanker’s journey toward Iran has now been halted, Hawkins said.

Military analysts said Washington may present the action as enforcement of its military blockade, but viewed it as a clear sign of a widening conflict. International relations analysts also said the United States and Saudi Arabia could carry out further military strikes to remove the Houthi blockade of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Atlantic Council senior fellow Thomas Warrick said additional military measures could be taken to change the Houthis’ position.