Washington, Aug 2026 : US forces disabled the steering system of a Panama-flagged cargo vessel after it allegedly attempted to breach a US blockade of Iranian ports, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.
According to CENTCOM, the M/V Vela Nova was intercepted while attempting to transit the Gulf of Oman and sail towards an Iranian port. US authorities said the vessel ignored repeated warnings from American forces before military action was taken.
A US Navy MH-60 helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles into the ship’s engine room, disabling its ability to continue towards Iran, CENTCOM said. The command described the operation as enforcement of the US blockade, which it said remains fully in effect.
“The ship is no longer transiting to Iran in violation of the US blockade,” CENTCOM said in its statement.
Maritime security firm Vanguard, citing an initial assessment, said the missile strike hit the vessel and caused a fire that was subsequently extinguished. Details regarding the condition of the crew and the extent of damage to the vessel were not immediately disclosed.
CENTCOM said the operation was part of an expanding campaign to prevent commercial vessels from violating the restrictions imposed on Iranian ports. As of August 11, the command said US forces had redirected 55 commercial vessels, disabled three vessels that did not comply with warnings and boarded two others.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions surrounding maritime traffic in the Gulf of Oman and waters surrounding Iran. The region remains a critical corridor for global shipping, with any disruption carrying potential consequences for energy supplies and international trade.
Change of Command in Middle East
Separately, the US-led Combined Joint Task Force–Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) conducted a formal change-of-command ceremony in the Middle East on August 11.
Maj. Gen. Kevin Lambert handed over command of the task force to Rear Adm. Liam Hulin during a ceremony presided over by CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper.
CJTF-OIR was established by CENTCOM in 2014 to coordinate international efforts against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria. The task force advises, assists and enables regional partner forces involved in counterterrorism operations.
Cooper highlighted the task force’s continuing role in combating terrorism, strengthening regional partnerships and contributing to security and stability across the Middle East. He also praised Lambert for his leadership and service during his tenure.
The leadership transition comes as CJTF-OIR continues to work with regional partners against the continuing threat posed by ISIS while supporting broader US efforts to strengthen security cooperation across the region.
The reported strike on the Vela Nova and the simultaneous continuation of the CJTF-OIR mission underscore the broader US military focus on maritime enforcement, counterterrorism and regional security amid growing tensions in the Middle East.
(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
