US Central Command reported that one of its helicopters engaged a cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman on Tuesday, firing two hellfire missiles into the ship’s engine room. The Panama-flagged M/V Vela Nova was attempting to transit to an Iranian port in violation of the American naval blockade. According to Centcom’s statement, the vessel’s civilian crew had received repeated warnings from US forces before the military action was taken. Following the strike, the ship ceased its attempt to reach Iran.
The US has maintained a blockade of Iranian ports as part of broader hostilities that began on 28 February. In response, Iran has launched attacks against Israel and US-allied nations throughout the region and has effectively restricted passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane for global energy supplies. Before the conflict, approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas transited this waterway, and market prices have experienced significant volatility since the disruption began.
Ceasefire negotiations have stalled, and since a previous agreement collapsed in June, both the US and Iran have engaged in intermittent military exchanges. According to Centcom, as of 11 August, the command has redirected 55 commercial vessels attempting to circumvent the blockade, disabled 3 non-compliant ships, and boarded 2 others. The statement indicated the blockade would remain in effect, though it did not specify the intended Iranian destination of the M/V Vela Nova or confirm any casualties from the missile strike.
In a related incident on Tuesday, Yemen’s internationally recognized government reported that strikes by Iran-backed Houthi forces on a cargo ship in the Red Sea resulted in six deaths and ten injuries. The Houthis claimed the vessel was transporting Saudi military equipment. The attack marked what appeared to be the first fatal Houthi strike against a ship since the conflict commenced.
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