US military helicopter strikes cargo ship in Gulf of Oman

A US military helicopter fired missiles at a cargo ship on August 11, 2026, in the Gulf of Oman, US Central Command reported. The vessel was registered under Panama's flag.

Central Command said the strike was intended to disable the ship rather than destroy it. The missiles hit the engine room, according to BBC News.

American forces said the ship had been violating an Iran blockade and had ignored repeated warnings before the helicopter opened fire, the Financial Times reported.