The United States military has reported that it disabled a cargo vessel that was sailing toward Iran after the ship allegedly ignored repeated warnings from American forces enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports.
Incident Details
In a statement released on Saturday, May 30, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said that a U.S. aircraft fired a Hellfire missile into the engine room of the Gambia-flagged cargo ship M/V Lian Star on May 29. This action was taken after the ship's crew failed to respond to multiple warnings.
“A U.S. aircraft disabled the vessel by firing a Hellfire missile into the ship’s engine room after Lian Star’s crew failed to comply. The ship is no longer transiting to Iran,” CENTCOM said in a statement posted on X.
Warnings Ignored
The U.S. military stated that the vessel ignored more than 20 warnings before the strike was carried out. CENTCOM did not disclose whether any crew members were injured during the operation.
Blockade Enforcement
According to the military command, the action is part of ongoing efforts to enforce a blockade of Iranian ports amid continuing tensions in the region. “U.S. forces have disabled five commercial vessels and redirected 116 to fully enforce the blockade as a ceasefire with Iran remains in effect,” the statement added.
Regional Context
The United States has maintained restrictions on maritime traffic linked to Iran while Tehran continues to halt movement through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical routes for global oil and gas shipments.
