A U.S. military helicopter has opened fire on a ship that Washington claims attempted to breach the naval blockade imposed on Iran, marking a new escalation amid stalled negotiations over free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Wall Street Journal reported, citing a U.S. official, that the helicopter targeted the ship’s rudder after its crew ignored warnings from American personnel enforcing the blockade of Iranian ports.
The official added that the ship appeared to be attempting to transfer its crew to another civilian vessel following the attack, although no immediate reports of injuries were made available.
In related details, the maritime security company Vanguard reported that a Panamanian-flagged container ship named 'Vila Nova' was struck by a rocket fired from a helicopter while sailing west in the Gulf of Oman, approximately 71 nautical miles from the Pakistani coast.
The company explained that the strike caused a fire aboard the ship, which was subsequently brought under control, assuring the safety of all 17 crew members.
The incident occurs as U.S. forces continue to tighten the naval blockade on Iran. On Monday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the rerouting of 55 commercial ships, disabling two vessels, and seizing two others as part of the blockade operations.
During the initial phase of the blockade, the United States reported redirecting 194 ships and disabling nine, with previous enforcement efforts in June resulting in the deaths of three Indian sailors, according to a statement by an Indian official at the time.
In a separate incident, Vanguard announced that a Tanzanian-flagged cargo ship was attacked off the coast of Yemen by an unidentified source, leading to a fire and the death of two crew members.
These maritime developments unfold amid a relative lull in military confrontation between the United States and Iran, though the navigation of the Strait of Hormuz remains a major point of contention.
The strait holds strategic importance as a key passage for global energy supplies, with ongoing negotiations aiming to find a formula to restore navigation and de-escalate tensions.
With talks faltering in recent days, President Donald Trump’s administration has resumed pressure on Tehran through sanctions and intensified the naval blockade, increasing the risk of military skirmishes in the Gulf waters and the Gulf of Oman.