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U.S. forces have fired missiles at a Panama-flagged cargo ship accused of attempting to breach the American naval blockade of Iranian ports, disabling the vessel in the Gulf of Oman.
The U.S. Central Command said an MH-60 helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles into the engine room of the M/V Vela Nova on Tuesday after the ship ignored repeated warnings.
The strike halted the vessel’s movement, but all 17 crew members survived.
The incident occurred about 70 nautical miles off Pakistan’s coast, as tensions remain high over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy shipping route.
The U.S. has been enforcing a naval blockade on Iranian ports amid stalled diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran.
The latest strike has added to concerns over the safety of commercial shipping and the prospects for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Oil prices rose on Wednesday as renewed attacks raised fears that the maritime crisis could continue.
