ALBAWABA- US forces fired on a Panama-flagged commercial vessel after it attempted to breach a US-enforced blockade of Iranian ports, the US military said.
A US Navy helicopter fired two missiles at the engine room of the Villa Nova after US forces first disabled the vessel’s navigation systems, according to a US Army statement. The military said it has so far redirected 55 vessels attempting to breach the blockade, disabled three ships and boarded two others.
Meanwhile, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported continued activity by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the Strait of Hormuz over the past 48 hours. During the same period, US forces facilitated the passage of 42 vessels through the strategic waterway.
Iranian officials have tied any reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to a broader political settlement. The secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said the waterway would remain closed until the United States agrees to a ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza, ends the war and what Tehran calls the siege, and releases Iran’s frozen assets.
An IRGC spokesperson, cited by Fars News Agency, issued a further warning that renewed threats against Iran could prompt attacks on global internet-connected infrastructure, as well as extensive US electricity infrastructure, including power lines and power plants.
Despite the tensions, the US Energy Department said 20 million barrels of oil left the Persian Gulf on Sunday—above the average daily volume recorded before the conflict.
