A U.S. helicopter on Tuesday (August 11, 2026) fired missiles into the engine room of a Panama-flagged cargo ship that attempted to break the American blockade of Iran’s ports, the United States military said.

Also read | Do not write the obituary of international law yet

The U.S. Navy MH-60 helicopter fired on and disabled the M/V Vela Nova “after the ship’s civilian crew ignored repeated warnings from American forces,” U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said on X, adding that the vessel “is no longer transiting to Iran in violation of the U.S. blockade.”

It was the third time the United States, in a months-long war against Iran, has forcibly halted a vessel since reinstating the ports blockade on July 14.

Also read | **A new security triangle emerges with the Makkah Pact **

CENTCOM said it has redirected 55 ships that tried to run the blockade and boarded two others as of Tuesday (August 11, 2026).

Follow here for LIVE updates: