The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has stated that a military operation was conducted against a cargo ship that attempted to violate the naval blockade imposed on Iran in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman.
Sea-news.az reports that the Panama-flagged cargo ship M/V Vela Nova ignored radio contact and warnings from the US Navy while moving toward Iran through the Gulf of Oman. After the ship’s civilian crew left warnings unanswered, an MH-60 helicopter belonging to the US Navy launched two Hellfire guided missiles toward the vessel’s engine room. As a result of the strike, the ship’s steering mechanism and power plant were disabled.
Following the strike, the movement of the M/V Vela Nova toward Iran was completely halted. CENTCOM stated that the naval blockade applied in the region remains in effect.
According to the Central Command’s official report as of August 11, the routes of 55 commercial ships attempting to violate naval restrictions were forcibly changed by the naval forces, 2 ships were intercepted and detained, and 3 ships were disabled by strikes.
