New Delhi, Aug. 12 -- The US military on Tuesday (August 11) said it used missiles to disable a Panama-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman after the vessel allegedly ignored repeated warnings and attempted to violate a US blockade on Iranian ports.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said a US Navy MH-60 helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles into the engine room of the M/V Vela Nova, disabling the vessel's steering gear and preventing it from continuing towards Iran.

According to CENTCOM, the civilian crew of the Vela Nova ignored repeated warnings from US forces.

The military said the vessel was subsequently fired upon and disabled, adding that it was "no longer transiting to Iran in violation of the US blockade."

CENTCOM's statement di...