U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that American forces fired at a vessel attempting to break the naval blockade of Iranian ports. A U.S. official told the Wall Street Journal that the ship's crew was transferred to another vessel and all members were accounted for. No further details on the vessel's identity or location were provided.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed late Tuesday evening that the civilian crew of the Panama-flagged M/V Vela Nova, disabled earlier in the day by a Navy helicopter, had been transferred to another vessel and all members were accounted for, a U.S. official told the Wall Street Journal. The update adds to the sequence of events that began Tuesday afternoon when multiple reports first emerged of a U.S. helicopter firing on a vessel attempting to breach the naval blockade on Iranian ports.
The story unfolded rapidly Tuesday. Initial reports from Channel 14 and the Wall Street Journal described a U.S. attack helicopter opening fire. Within minutes, CENTCOM confirmed U.S. forces struck a Panama-flagged vessel. By 15:32 Jerusalem time, the command had provided detailed accounts: an MH-60 Seahawk helicopter launched two Hellfire missiles into the engine room of the M/V Vela Nova after the civilian crew ignored repeated warnings, disabling it in the Gulf of Oman. CENTCOM stated the ship was no longer proceeding to Iran and reported that since enforcement of the blockade resumed, 55 commercial vessels have been redirected, three disabled, and two boarded.
The Zioneer has reported on earlier U.S. actions to enforce the maritime blockade: CENTCOM struck an oil tanker attempting to breach the Strait of Hormuz on June 10, and disabled another vessel heading to Iran in the Gulf of Oman on July 26. CENTCOM has consistently rejected Iranian claims of successful attacks on U.S. Navy ships, calling them false.
The condition of the Vela Nova's crew beyond being accounted for, the extent of damage to the ship, and its ultimate fate remain unconfirmed.
14 developments
- StrongCENTCOM Diverted 86 Commercial Vessels as Part of Iran Naval Blockade
- StrongUS military says it disabled ship repeatedly trying to breach naval blockade
- DevelopingCENTCOM strikes oil tanker attempting to breach blockade in Strait of Hormuz
- StrongIranian opposition site: CENTCOM threatens to attack vessels sailing between Iranian ports
Source and signal
- Open-source intake