The United States military says it has stopped a cargo vessel flying the Gambian flag from continuing its journey toward Iran, claiming the ship violated restrictions linked to the ongoing blockade of Iranian maritime routes.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the incident occurred on May 29 after the vessel allegedly ignored repeated warnings from American forces while attempting to proceed to an Iranian port.
According to CENTCOM, more than 20 warnings were issued to the ship’s crew, but there was no compliance. A U.S. aircraft later struck the vessel’s engine room with a missile, rendering it unable to continue its voyage.
The military added that the action was part of wider enforcement operations targeting commercial ships suspected of breaching restrictions connected to Iran, noting that several vessels have been intercepted or redirected in similar circumstances.
However, authorities did not confirm whether there were any casualties or injuries following the strike on the ship.
The incident comes amid ongoing tensions in the region, where the United States continues to enforce maritime restrictions around key waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz, a major global oil shipping route.
