US forces opened fire on a Panama-flagged ship that tried to run the American blockade of Iranian ports early Tuesday, a US official said, stepping up enforcement as the Trump administration attempts to squeeze the regime economically. The Panama-flagged vessel had reportedly ignored warnings from US forces as it tried to breach the blockade of an Iranian port.&nbsp;The helicopter then fired at the ship’s rudder in the Gulf of Oman, sparking a fire on board, which was later extinguished.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-turns-around-iran-s-demand-for-compensation-back-on-it-says-tehran-must-pay-for-those-killed-wounded-1786381999140">Trump turns around Iran’s demand for compensation back on it, says Tehran must pay for those killed, wounded</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it received a report of an incident involving a container ship and military forces in the Gulf of Oman. Maritime security sources said the vessel was believed to have been struck by a missile off the coast of Pakistan.&nbsp;There were no immediate reports of any casualties in the incident, which took place before dawn on Tuesday, but the official said the ship appeared to be trying to transfer its crew to another civilian vessel after the attack.&nbsp;Earlier, British maritime risk management group Vanguard and a separate maritime security source reported that a Panama-flagged container vessel named Vela Nova was struck by a missile fired from a helicopter while transiting through the Gulf of Oman about 71 nautical miles from the coast of Pakistan.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mojtaba-khamenei-appoints-iran-s-6-new-military-commanders-fills-up-vacant-posts-1786391474930">Mojtaba Khamenei appoints Iran’s 6 new military commanders, fills up vacant posts</a>&nbsp;“The missile struck the vessel, causing a fire that was subsequently extinguished,” said Vanguard’s initial report on the incident, adding that all 17 crew were accounted for.&nbsp;The location of the incident is significant, since the Gulf of Oman servesias a crucial shipping route linking the Arabian Sea with the Strait of Hormuz.&nbsp;The Vela Nova is registered to Golden Valley Marine Investment in Liberia and operated by Doris Shipping &amp; Trading in Turkey.&nbsp;Charlie Brown, senior adviser to United Against a Nuclear Iran, told the Washington Post that the Vela Nova had recently called at Mumbai alongside vessels linked to Iran.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bangladesh-pm-restates-request-for-hasina-extradition-in-talks-with-indian-envoy-1786373569990">Bangladesh PM restates request for Hasina extradition in talks with Indian envoy</a>&nbsp;He said the ship had been alongside the Zyra and Enzo 2, which were subsequently associated with Port Klang.Brown claimed the Zyra had switched from the Iranian flag to what he described as a “false Comoros flag”, raising questions over whether reflagging was being used to obscure Iranian connections.&nbsp;The disabling of the Vela Nova near the blockade line highlights heightened scrutiny of shipping with potential links to Tehran, he added.&nbsp;US Central Command has not confirmed that American forces carried out the reported attack.Meanwhile, the UKMTO advised vessels to consider the latest maritime security information and maintain awareness of the evolving situation.

The Panama-flagged vessel had reportedly ignored warnings from US forces as it tried to breach the blockade of an Iranian port. The helicopter then fired at the ship’s rudder in the Gulf of Oman, sparking a fire on board, which was later extinguished.

US forces opened fire on a Panama-flagged ship that tried to run the American blockade of Iranian ports early Tuesday, a US official said, stepping up enforcement as the Trump administration attempts to squeeze the regime economically. The Panama-flagged vessel had reportedly ignored warnings from US forces as it tried to breach the blockade of an Iranian port. The helicopter then fired at the ship’s rudder in the Gulf of Oman, sparking a fire on board, which was later extinguished. Also Read: Trump turns around Iran’s demand for compensation back on it, says Tehran must pay for those killed, wounded The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it received a report of an incident involving a container ship and military forces in the Gulf of Oman. Maritime security sources said the vessel was believed to have been struck by a missile off the coast of Pakistan. There were no immediate reports of any casualties in the incident, which took place before dawn on Tuesday, but the official said the ship appeared to be trying to transfer its crew to another civilian vessel after the attack. Earlier, British maritime risk management group Vanguard and a separate maritime security source reported that a Panama-flagged container vessel named Vela Nova was struck by a missile fired from a helicopter while transiting through the Gulf of Oman about 71 nautical miles from the coast of Pakistan. Also Read: Mojtaba Khamenei appoints Iran’s 6 new military commanders, fills up vacant posts “The missile struck the vessel, causing a fire that was subsequently extinguished,” said Vanguard’s initial report on the incident, adding that all 17 crew were accounted for. The location of the incident is significant, since the Gulf of Oman servesias a crucial shipping route linking the Arabian Sea with the Strait of Hormuz. The Vela Nova is registered to Golden Valley Marine Investment in Liberia and operated by Doris Shipping & Trading in Turkey. Charlie Brown, senior adviser to United Against a Nuclear Iran, told the Washington Post that the Vela Nova had recently called at Mumbai alongside vessels linked to Iran. Also Read: Bangladesh PM restates request for Hasina extradition in talks with Indian envoy He said the ship had been alongside the Zyra and Enzo 2, which were subsequently associated with Port Klang. Brown claimed the Zyra had switched from the Iranian flag to what he described as a “false Comoros flag”, raising questions over whether reflagging was being used to obscure Iranian connections. The disabling of the Vela Nova near the blockade line highlights heightened scrutiny of shipping with potential links to Tehran, he added. US Central Command has not confirmed that American forces carried out the reported attack. Meanwhile, the UKMTO advised vessels to consider the latest maritime security information and maintain awareness of the evolving situation.

The Panama-flagged vessel had reportedly ignored warnings from US forces as it tried to breach the blockade of an Iranian port. The helicopter then fired at the ship’s rudder in the Gulf of Oman, sparking a fire on board, which was later extinguished.

US helicopter opens fire on Panama-flagged ship ‘breaking blockade of Iran’

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has reported that its vessel was approached as close as 100 metres by a small craft carrying five people in the northwestern Indian Ocean, close to the Bab-el-Mandeb. The small craft altered its course after the vessel's armed security team were deployed. The incident happened 200 nautical miles west of Scorota&nbsp;“The Master of a product tanker has reported that the vessel was approached by a small craft with 5 persons onboard, closest point of approach 100m. The vessel’s Armed Security Team were deployed, and the small craft altered course away from the reporting vessel,” the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre said in the advisory.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/marco-rubio-kolkata-ho-chi-minh-sarani-cold-war-irony-1779519715342">Who is Ho Chi Minh? Why the US consulate in Kolkata stands on a street named after him</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">UKMTO WARNING 060-26 Click here to view the full advisory note⤵️<a href="https://t.co/WrarTo5yId">https://t.co/WrarTo5yId</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MaritimeSecurity?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MaritimeSecurity</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MarSec?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MarSec</a> <a href="https://t.co/mpYuKuuPfX">pic.twitter.com/mpYuKuuPfX</a>&mdash; UKMTO Operations Centre (@UK_MTO) <a href="https://twitter.com/UK_MTO/status/2058040748818284730?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This was the second such approach, earlier on Friday, May 22, &nbsp;when a commercial tanker sailing 98 nautical miles north of Socotra was approached by a small craft carrying five people. The vessels' armed security team reportedly fired a warning shot, urging them to turn away.&nbsp;No damages were reported, and no further details were made available. Vessels were advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO whilst authorities investigate.The development comes as the US-Iran war has led to a volatile situation for maritime navigation. UK Maritime authorities have launched an investigation into both incidents. The water surrounding Yemen, including shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea, has witnessed a series of maritime security incidents. Earlier this month, the Yemeni Coast Guard announced that an oil tanker had been boarded by armed individuals and taken away towards the Somali coast.&nbsp;&nbsp;

UKMTO reported two suspicious approaches involving small crafts near Bab-el-Mandeb and Socotra as maritime security concerns rise amid escalating tensions linked to the US-Iran conflict.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has reported that its vessel was approached as close as 100 metres by a small craft carrying five people in the northwestern Indian Ocean, close to the Bab-el-Mandeb. The small craft altered its course after the vessel's armed security team were deployed. The incident happened 200 nautical miles west of Scorota “The Master of a product tanker has reported that the vessel was approached by a small craft with 5 persons onboard, closest point of approach 100m. The vessel’s Armed Security Team were deployed, and the small craft altered course away from the reporting vessel,” the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre said in the advisory. Also Read: Who is Ho Chi Minh? Why the US consulate in Kolkata stands on a street named after him

UKMTO reported two suspicious approaches involving small crafts near Bab-el-Mandeb and Socotra as maritime security concerns rise amid escalating tensions linked to the US-Iran conflict.

UKMTO reports suspicious vessel approach near Socotra amid regional tensions

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