US military tanker

Washington (dpa) — The US military has attacked a Panama-flagged tanker to prevent the vessel from transiting the Gulf of Oman and reaching an Iranian port, the military said on Tuesday.

A US navy helicopter fired two hellfire missiles at the M/V Vela Nova cargo vessel “after the ship’s civilian crew ignored repeated warnings from American forces,” US Central Command (CENTCOM), the US command responsible for the region, said on X.

It was initially unclear whether there were any casualties.

US military tanker

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) earlier reported an incident in the Gulf of Oman involving “a container ship and military forces,” without providing further details.

The US reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports in mid-July in a bid to pressure Tehran into reopening the Strait of Hormuz by stifling Iran’s revenue from oil exports.

US forces have repeatedly fired at vessels attempting to sail towards Iranian ports and forced tankers to change course.