US forces fired missiles at a cargo vessel to prevent it from reaching an Iranian port in violation of a US blockade.
Key facts
- •The M/V Vela Nova is a Panama-flagged cargo vessel.
- •A US Navy MH-60 helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles into the ship's engine room.
- •CENTCOM reported that the ship's steering gear was disabled during the operation.
- •No casualties were reported following the attack.
- •The US claims this is the 60th time it has blocked a ship from violating its blockade of Iranian ports.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that a US Navy MH-60 helicopter attacked the Panama-flagged cargo vessel M/V Vela Nova in the Gulf of Oman on August 11, 2026. The military action was taken to stop the ship from traveling to an Iranian port, which the US stated is a violation of its unilateral blockade of Iranian ports.
By the numbers
Details of the military action
According to a statement posted by CENTCOM on X, the helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles into the engine room of the Vela Nova after the civilian crew reportedly ignored repeated warnings from American forces. The military also confirmed that they disabled the ship's steering gear during the operation. No casualties were reported as a result of the attack.
Context of the blockade
The US stated that the vessel is no longer transiting toward Iran and that the blockade remains in full effect. Officials noted that this incident marks one of 60 instances where US forces have blocked ships attempting to transit through the blockade.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Middle East Eye.
