U.S. Navy Helicopter Fires on Panama-Flagged Containership in Gulf of Oman in Blockade Enforcement

U.S. Central Command has confirmed that American forces fired two Hellfire missiles at the Panama-flagged containership Vela Nova in the Gulf of Oman on Tuesday, disabling the vessel after it allegedly ignored repeated warnings and attempted to violate the U.S. blockade against Iran.

CENTCOM said a U.S. Navy MH-60 helicopter targeted the ship after its civilian crew continued sailing toward an Iranian port.

“Earlier today, CENTCOM forces disabled the steering gear of Panama-flagged M/V Vela Nova as the cargo vessel attempted to transit the Gulf of Oman and violate the U.S. blockade against Iran by sailing toward an Iranian port,” CENTCOM