US Helicopter Attacks Ship Trying to Break Iran Port Blockade
WASHINGTON — A US helicopter fired missiles into the engine room of a Panama-flagged cargo ship on Tuesday after the vessel ignored repeated warnings and attempted to break the American blockade of Iran’s ports, the United States military said.
The US Navy MH-60 helicopter disabled the M/V Vela Nova, which “is no longer transiting to Iran in violation of the US blockade,” US Central Command said on X.
It was the third time the United States has forcibly halted a vessel since reinstating the ports blockade on July 14. CENTCOM said it has redirected 55 ships that tried to run the blockade and boarded two others as of Tuesday.
US forces previously blockaded Iranian ports from April 13 to June 18, during which time they disabled nine ships and redirected more than 140.
Iran has demanded that the United States end the ports blockade as part of its conditions to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key conduit for oil and gas shipments before the war that has seen traffic plummet due to Tehran’s attacks on ships in the area.
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