U.S. Helicopter Disables Ship Violating Iran Port Blockade

A U.S. Navy MH-60 helicopter fired missiles into the engine room of the Panama-flagged M/V Vela Nova on August 11, 2026, after the vessel ignored warnings to stop violating the Iran blockade.

This incident marks the third time the U.S. has forcibly halted a ship since the ports blockade was reinstated on July 14, with 55 vessels redirected and two others boarded by CENTCOM.

The U.S. military confirmed the ship is no longer transiting to Iran, while separate Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon on August 11 resulted in one fatality and two injuries despite an ongoing truce.