A US helicopter fired at a cargo ship that violated the US maritime blockade of Iran on the same day, causing its steering device to malfunction and stop sailing. The cargo ship flying the Panamanian flag was attempting to cross the Gulf of Oman and sail towards an Iranian port.

After the crew of the cargo ship ignored multiple warnings from the US military, a US Navy helicopter launched two Hellfire missiles into the ship's cabin. This is a photograph taken on May 29, 2026, of a merchant ship stranded in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz in the small town of Haizeb in northern Oman.

As of August 11, 2026, the US military has forced 55 merchant ships to change course, causing 3 ships to lose navigation capability and boarding and inspecting 2 ships.  

Earlier that day, The Wall Street Journal quoted a US official as saying that a US military helicopter fired at a ship flying the Panamanian flag and related to Iran. Afterwards, the ship appeared to be attempting to transfer the crew to another civilian vessel. There are currently no reports of casualties in the incident.Editor/Min Jing