U.S. military strikes Panamanian vessel in Gulf of Oman

The Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) reported that all 17 crew members on the Panamanian-flagged container ship Vela Nova are safe following a U.S. military strike in the Gulf of Oman. The incident occurred near the coast of Pakistan when the vessel was allegedly attempting to bypass a naval blockade imposed by Washington to reach an Iranian port.

U.S. Central Command (Centcom) stated that its forces neutralized the ship’s steering system after the crew ignored repeated warnings. An MH-60 Navy helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles at the engine room before intercepting the vessel. No environmental contamination was reported following the strike.

The AMP has launched an investigation into the incident and urged all Panamanian-flagged vessels to exercise extreme caution and adhere to international protocols when navigating conflict zones. This action comes amid intensified U.S. efforts to pressure the Iranian economy, with Centcom reporting that it has diverted 55 commercial vessels attempting to evade the blockade as of August 11.