CENTCOM announces the detention of a cargo ship that attempted to breach the naval blockade imposed on Iran

Washington, Aug 11 (KUNA) -- The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Tuesday that it had disabled a cargo ship that attempted to breach the naval blockade imposed on Iran. CENTCOM stated in a press release that its forces disabled the navigation system of the Panama-flagged cargo vessel “Villa Nova.” The release explained that the ship was attempting to cross the Gulf of Oman and violate the U.S. blockade on Iran by sailing toward an Iranian port. It noted that a U.S. Navy helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles at the ship’s engine room after the civilian crew ignored repeated warnings from U.S. forces. CENTCOM further stated that, as of Tuesday, it had diverted 55 commercial vessels that attempted to breach the blockade, disabled three violating ships, and boarded two others. (End) A.M.M. / R.J.