US helicopter fires on ship attempting to break Iran ports blockade

The U.S. military reported that a U.S. Navy helicopter fired missiles into the engine room of a Panama-flagged cargo ship attempting to breach the American blockade of Iranian ports. The incident occurred Tuesday when the M/V Vela Nova ignored repeated warnings from U.S. forces.

According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the helicopter fired on and disabled the vessel, ensuring it would not proceed to Iran in violation of the blockade. This action represents the third time U.S. forces have forcibly stopped a ship since the blockade was reinstated on July 14. CENTCOM stated that 55 ships attempting to run the blockade have been redirected, and two others have been boarded.

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after the ship's civilian crew ignored repeated warnings from American forces

U.S. forces previously enforced a blockade of Iranian ports from April 13 to June 18, during which time nine ships were disabled and over 140 were redirected. Iran has demanded an end to the ports blockade as a condition for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for oil and gas shipments that has seen reduced traffic due to attacks on vessels in the region.

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is no longer transiting to Iran in violation of the US blockade