CENTCOM says U.S. helicopter disabled the Vela Nova

CENTCOM said a U.S. Navy MH-60 fired two Hellfire missiles into the Panamanian container ship Vela Nova after it ignored warnings and steered toward Iran. The strike disabled the vessel; all crew were accounted for and no injuries were reported.

Why this matters. The action extends kinetic blockade enforcement beyond Hormuz to a non-tanker merchant vessel in the Gulf of Oman, widening commercial-shipping exposure despite public de-escalation signals.