US Navy Disables Blockade-Running Cargo Ship in Gulf of Oman
A U.S. Navy MH-60 helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles into the engine room of the Panama-flagged M/V Vela Nova after the vessel attempted to breach a naval blockade of Iranian ports. U.S. Central Command stated the ship ignored repeated warnings to halt before being disabled in the Gulf of Oman. This marks the third forced interception since the blockade was reinstated in July to pressure Tehran. Iran continues to threaten the permanent closure of the Strait of Hormuz.