US Military Disables Cargo Ship Heading to Iran with Missile Strike

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced today that the US military fired a missile at a Gambian-flagged cargo ship attempting to reach Iran yesterday, hitting the engine room and leaving the vessel without power. According to CNN and AFP, CENTCOM, which oversees US military operations in the Middle East, stated that the ship, named 'M/V Lian Star,' was heading to an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman, violating US blockade measures on Iranian ports. The ship was attacked after failing to respond to more than 20 warnings from the US. In a post on X, CENTCOM wrote, 'After the crew of the Lian Star failed to comply with orders, a US military aircraft fired a Hellfire missile at the ship's engine room, causing it to lose power. The ship has stopped its journey to Iran.' The statement did not mention whether there were any casualties on the Lian Star. CENTCOM stated that 'during this period of maintaining a ceasefire with Iran, the US military has disabled 5 merchant ships and ordered 116 vessels to divert, fully enforcing blockade measures.' The US is currently enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports; meanwhile, Iran has effectively blocked vessel passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global hub for oil and gas. Negotiations regarding a long-term end to the war and the restoration of passage through the Strait of Hormuz have yet to reach a final consensus.