The US military claimed on Friday it had fired a missile at the engine room of a cargo ship flying the flag of Gambia that was attempting to travel to an Iranian port.
The strike was carried out on May 29 after the M/V Lian Star ignored more than 20 warnings, US Central Command (CENTCOM), which has responsibility for operations in the Middle East region, told AFP.
“Lian Star crew failed to comply and a U.S. aircraft fired a Hellfire missile into the ship’s engine room, disabling the vessel. “The ship is not now bound for Iran,” CENTCOM declared on X.
The statement did not mention if there were any casualties on the Lian Star after the collision.
U.S. soldiers interdicted five commercial vessels and diverted 116 to completely implement the blockade, as a ceasefire with Iran continues in place, CENTCOM said.
The United States has begun implementing a blockade of Iranian ports while Tehran impedes all travel through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for global oil and gas.
Discussions on a long term end to the war and reopening the waterway are not yet finalised.
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