US says helicopter fired missiles to disable ship breaking Iran blockade
The US military confirms firing missiles from an aircraft to disable a cargo vessel attempting to breach the blockade of Iranian ports in the Gulf of Oman.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- A US military helicopter fired missiles to disable a cargo ship's steering gear.
- The Panama-flagged M/V Vela Nova tried to violate the US blockade on Iranian ports.
- The strike took place in the Gulf of Oman on Tuesday.
- Iran has closed the critical Strait of Hormuz, impacting global oil shipping routes.
The US military announced that one of its helicopters has fired missiles to disable the steering gear of a cargo ship that was attempting to bypass the ongoing American blockade on Iranian ports.
In an official statement, US Central Command (Centcom) reported that its MH-60 aircraft fired two Hellfire missiles into the engine room of the Panama-flagged vessel M/V Vela Nova while it was transiting the Gulf of Oman on Tuesday.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
According to Centcom's statement posted on X, the M/V Vela attempted to sail toward an Iranian port without disclosing the specific destination. The military command did not mention whether any casualties or injuries resulted from the operation, and Iran has not yet issued any commentary regarding the incident.
This escalation highlights the persistent maritime risks in the Middle East following the breakdown of diplomatic efforts between the US and Iran. With the critical Strait of Hormuz effectively closed, nearly a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas transit has been disrupted, triggering severe global price fluctuations since the war between the US, Israel, and Iran began on February 28.
The US blockade enforcement follows unsuccessful attempts to end the ongoing conflict, which prompted Tehran to retaliate by launching attacks against Israel and US-allied nations across the Gulf. With the latest ceasefire collapsing in June, intermittent exchanges of fire between US and Iranian forces have continued as mediators struggle to broker an agreement to reopen the vital oil waterway.
In a separate development on Tuesday, Yemen's internationally recognized government stated that six people were killed and 10 others were injured following strikes by the Iran-backed Houthis on a cargo ship in the Red Sea. The Houthis claimed the vessel was carrying Saudi military equipment, marking what appears to be the group's first fatal attack on a ship since the war started.
Source: BBC World
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