CENTCOM: We disabled the guidance system of a ship that attempted to break Iran's blockade

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Tuesday that U.S. forces disabled the steering system of a vessel that attempted to break the Iranian blockade, and fired two Hellfire missiles at the ship after it ignored warnings, noting that the vessel was no longer heading toward Iranian shores. The command added that the U.S. military had altered the course of 55 commercial ships, disabled three vessels, and boarded two others since the resumption of the naval blockade on Iran up to Tuesday.

In a post on the X platform, CENTCOM stated: “Earlier today (Tuesday), U.S. Central Command forces disabled the steering mechanism of the Panamanian-flagged cargo ship ‘Vela Nova’ while it was attempting to cross the Gulf of Oman and breach the U.S. blockade on Iran by sailing toward an Iranian port.”

It continued: “An MH-60 U.S. helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles toward the ship’s engine room after its civilian crew ignored repeated warnings from U.S. forces. The vessel is no longer en route to Iran, in violation of the U.S. blockade, which remains fully in effect.”

Regarding the continuation of blockade measures, CENTCOM said: “As of August 11, U.S. Central Command had altered the course of 55 commercial ships that attempted to breach the blockade, disabled three non-compliant vessels, and boarded two others. U.S. forces operating in the Middle East maintain a high level of vigilance, readiness, and lethal combat capability.”