US helicopter fired on ship that tried to break Iran ports blockade
WASHINGTON: A US helicopter on Tuesday fired missiles into the engine room of a Panama-flagged cargo ship that attempted to break the American blockade of Iran’s ports, the United States military said.
US military reports that a US helicopter launched missiles from an MH-60 helicopter at a Panama-flagged cargo ship, the M/V Vela Nova, on Tuesday. The ship had attempted to breach the American blockade imposed on Iran's ports, as confirmed by CENTCOM. The crew of the vessel disregarded repeated warnings from American forces before the attack.
Following the incident, CENTCOM stated that the ship is no longer attempting to transit to Iran, thus violating the US blockade. This marks the third instance in a months-long conflict between the two nations, where the US has obstructed vessels since reestablishing the blockade on July 14. CENTCOM has redirected 55 ships that tried to circumvent the blockade and boarded two others as of Tuesday.
Previously, US forces blockaded Iranian ports from April 13 to June 18, disabling nine ships and redirecting over 140, according to CENTCOM. Iran has called upon the United States to lift the ports blockade as part of its conditions to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for oil and gas transportation that has experienced a significant decline due to Tehran's attacks on ships in the region.
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- US helicopter fired on ship that tried to break Iran ports blockade channelnewsasia.com
- US helicopter fires on ship trying to break Iran ports blockade freemalaysiatoday.com
