World
US military strikes cargo ship accused of trying to breach Iran port blockade
The US military attacked the Vela Nova on Tuesday, saying the Panama-flagged cargo ship had ignored repeated warnings while attempting to breach the blockade of Iranian ports in the Gulf of Oman. According to CENTCOM, a US Navy helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles at the engine room and disabled the vessel’s steering system. No information was released about possible crew casualties. The strike came during a period of relative calm following a 13-day escalation in July, as the United States reinstated its naval blockade and Iran reasserted control over the Strait of Hormuz.