Report: US helicopter fired at ship attempting to cross Strait of Hormuz

A US military helicopter fired at the rudder of a Panama-flagged ship after its crew ignored warnings from forces enforcing a naval blockade on Iranian ports, the Wall Street Journal reported today (Tuesday), citing a US official.

According to the report, there were no casualties in the incident. After the shooting, the ship was observed attempting to transfer its crew members to another civilian vessel.

Earlier, the British maritime risk management group Vanguard, along with a source in the maritime security sector, stated that according to preliminary assessments, the container ship Vela Nova, sailing under the Panamanian flag, was apparently struck by a missile while navigating the Gulf of Oman.