US forces struck the Panama-flagged containership Vela Nova in the Gulf of Oman after the vessel allegedly attempted to breach the US blockade against Iran, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM).
CENTCOM said a US Navy MH-60 helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles into the vessel’s engine room after its civilian crew ignored repeated warnings from American forces.
The strike disabled the vessel’s steering capability and prevented it from continuing towards an Iranian port, according to the US military.
The incident occurred on 11 August approximately 71 nautical miles off the coast of Pakistan.
UKMTO reports incident involving military forces
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) initially reported an incident involving a containership and military forces in the Gulf of Oman at around 0715 UTC.
UKMTO Advisory 109-26 did not initially identify the vessel or the military forces involved. It advised vessels in the region to consider the latest maritime security information and maintain awareness of the evolving operational environment.
Initial assessments from maritime security sources subsequently identified the vessel as the Panama-flagged Vela Nova and indicated that it had been struck by a missile.
CENTCOM later confirmed that US forces had deliberately targeted the vessel.
Earlier today, CENTCOM forces disabled the steering gear of Panama-flagged M/V Vela Nova as the cargo vessel attempted to transit the Gulf of Oman and violate the U.S. blockade against Iran by sailing toward an Iranian port.
A U.S. Navy MH-60 helicopter fired two hellfire… pic.twitter.com/hqY1g2Ng8q
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) August 11, 2026
According to the US military, Vela Nova was sailing towards an Iranian port in violation of the US blockade when American forces intervened.
Two Hellfire missiles fired at engine room
CENTCOM said the containership’s civilian crew had ignored repeated warnings before the US Navy MH-60 helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles into the engine room.
The strike disabled the ship’s steering gear, leaving the vessel unable to continue its voyage towards Iran.
A fire was reported aboard Vela Nova following the strike but was subsequently brought under control.
All 17 crew members were accounted for, with no injuries reported.
CENTCOM said that, as of 11 August, US forces had redirected 55 commercial vessels attempting to breach the blockade, disabled three vessels that did not comply with instructions and boarded two others.
The incident represents a significant escalation in the enforcement of restrictions on commercial shipping attempting to reach Iranian ports.
Security risks intensify across Middle East shipping routes
The Vela Nova incident comes amid heightened security risks for commercial shipping across the Gulf of Oman, Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea.
On the same day, UKMTO issued a separate warning after a cargo vessel was hit by an unknown projectile off Al Mokha, Yemen, in the southern Red Sea.
The vessel was subsequently identified as the Egyptian-owned Tihamah. Four crew members were killed, while two Yemeni rescuers were also killed after the vessel was struck again following the arrival of rescue personnel.
The incidents highlight the increasingly complex security environment facing commercial vessels operating around two of the Middle East’s most important maritime gateways.
