A US Navy MH-60 helicopter launched two Hellfire missiles into the engine room of the Vela Nova after the civilian crew ignored repeated warnings, disabling the vessel as it attempted to break the naval blockade on Iran, according to US Central Command. The command said the ship is no longer proceeding to Iran.
US Central Command said Tuesday that a US Navy MH-60 helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles into the engine room of the cargo ship Vela Nova after its civilian crew ignored repeated warnings. The command stated the vessel is no longer proceeding to Iran.
The identification of the Vela Nova and the specific munitions used came after a series of reports earlier today (Tue 15:32 Jerusalem). Initial reports stated a US helicopter opened fire on a vessel attempting to breach the naval blockade. Within minutes, the Wall Street Journal reported that a Panama-flagged ship was targeted, and CENTCOM confirmed the strike, subsequently identifying the vessel as the Vela Nova and detailing the Hellfire missiles.
The interdiction is the latest in a series of US actions against vessels attempting to breach the naval blockade on Iran. The Zioneer has previously reported on the disabling of the oil tanker M/T Settebello and the Iran-affiliated M/T Marivex in the Gulf of Oman. These actions are part of Operation Epic Fury, the ongoing US air and naval campaign against Iranian targets.
No information about casualties or the status of the Vela Nova's crew has been released.
14 developments
- 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
- StrongCENTCOM: Two vessels diverted in past 24 hours as part of Iran naval blockade
Source and signal
- Open-source intake