US helicopter fires on ship trying to break Iran ports blockade

On Tuesday, a US helicopter launched missiles at the engine room of a Panama-flagged cargo ship attempting to evade the American blockade of Iran's ports, according to the US military. The MH-60 helicopter from the US Navy fired on the M/V Vela Nova after the vessel's crew disregarded multiple warnings from American forces. The ship is no longer attempting to transit to Iran in violation of the US blockade, Centcom stated on the social media platform X. This marks the third time the US has forcefully halted a vessel since reinstating the ports blockade on July 14, following months of conflict with Iran.

As of Tuesday, US forces have redirected 55 ships attempting to break the blockade and boarded two others, Centcom reported. Prior to July 14, Iran was subjected to a ports blockade from April 13 to June 18, during which nine ships were disabled and over 140 were redirected, according to Centcom. Iran has demanded an end to the blockade as part of its conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for oil and gas shipments before the war, which has resulted in a decline in traffic due to Tehran's attacks on ships in the region.