US military disables Panama-flagged ship breaching Iranian blockade

A US military helicopter fired upon the Panama-flagged merchant vessel M/T Lavine after the ship repeatedly attempted to breach a naval blockade of Iranian ports. According to US Central Command, the helicopter targeted the ship’s rudder to disable the vessel without causing casualties. This incident follows at least four attempts by the vessel to bypass the blockade.

The naval blockade, targeting the Strait of Hormuz, was reimposed on July 14 following the collapse of negotiations between the US and Iran. This marks the second time a merchant ship has been disabled since the blockade was reinstated; the tanker Belma was similarly disabled on July 15. Since the reimposition of the blockade, 12 other vessels have been redirected by military forces.