US-Iran War Live Updates: US strikes ship trying to breach Iran blockade; 6 killed in Houthi attack
US-Iran War Live Updates: The US military said it struck a cargo ship attempting to sail towards an Iranian port, while four crew members and two rescuers were killed in a separate Houthi attack in the Bab el-Mandeb strait. Follow for the latest updates.
US Central Command said a Navy MH-60 helicopter struck the engine room of the Panama-flagged Vela Nova after its civilian crew ignored repeated warnings while sailing towards an Iranian port through the Gulf of Oman. The vessel’s steering gear was disabled and it was prevented from continuing towards Iran. CENTCOM said it had redirected 55 commercial vessels attempting to breach the blockade, disabled three and boarded two as of August 11.
Meanwhile, four crew members aboard the Egyptian-owned cargo ship Tihamah and two Yemeni rescuers were killed in a Houthi attack in the Bab el-Mandeb strait. If confirmed, the crew fatalities would be the first deaths in a Houthi strike on commercial shipping since the US-Iran war began on February 28. The Iran-aligned group also claimed a separate attack on a Saudi vessel carrying military equipment, though Riyadh did not immediately confirm the incident. Follow for the latest updates.