In brief
The U.S. Central Command announced that an MH‑60 helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles into the engine room of the Panama‑flagged M/V Vela Nova as it tried to enter an Iranian port, effectively disabling its steering gear. Acting after repeated warnings were ignored, the strike prevented the vessel from continuing its course. The U.S. blockade, started in April, now has seen 55 commercial ships redirected, three vessels disabled, and two boarded. Iran has yet to respond to the incident.
US helicopter fires missiles to block Iranian cargo ship
The U.S. Central Command (Centcom) said its MH‑60 helicopter striked a Panama‑flagged cargo vessel, the M/V Vela Nova, with two Hellfire missiles, disabling its steering gear and stopping the ship from entering an Iranian port in the Gulf of Oman.
The strike was carried out after the ship’s civilian crew ignored repeated warnings from U.S. forces. Centcom added that the vessel is no longer transiting toward Iran and that the U.S. blockade remains in full effect.
The U.S. blockade against Iranian ports, instituted in April, has so far redirected 55 commercial vessels attempting to run the blockade, disabled three non‑compliant ships, and boarded two.
Iran has not yet commented on the incident.
The action illustrates the U.S. commitment to enforcing maritime sanctions and serves as a warning to shipping operators that the blockade will be rigorously guarded.
