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Did US Helicopter Strike Support Iran Blockade Enforcement?
US military helicopter fired missiles at a cargo ship attempting to violate the US blockade of Iranian ports, according to Central Command statements.
What we know
The United States military reported that a helicopter fired missiles to disable a cargo ship attempting to violate the US blockade of Iranian ports.
According to statements from US Central Command (Centcom), the MH-60 aircraft fired two hellfire missiles into the engine room of the Panama-flagged M/V Vela Nova vessel while it was attempting to transit the Gulf of Oman.
The action was reportedly taken after the ship's civilian crew failed to heed repeated warnings issued by American forces.
Following the incident, Centcom stated that the vessel in question was no longer transiting to Iran.
What remains unconfirmed
Information regarding the full context of the broader maritime situation or specific details about the warnings issued prior to the strike are not detailed in the available evidence.
There is no information provided regarding Iran's reaction to the action or the blockade itself.
US Central Command (Centcom) says its MH-60 aircraft on Tuesday fired two hellfire missiles into the engine room of the Panama-flagged M/V Vela Nova vessel, as it attempted to transit the Gulf of Oman.
Centcom said it acted after "the ship's civilian crew ignored repeated warnings from American forces".
The vessel "is no longer transiting to Iran", it added.
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