US military disables cargo ship near Strait of Hormuz

On Friday, U.S. Central Command (Centcom) forces intercepted the Gambia-flagged cargo ship Lian Star as it attempted to approach an Iranian port. According to Centcom, the vessel failed to comply with signals to observe the U.S.-imposed blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. A U.S. aircraft disabled the ship by firing a Hellfire missile into its engine room, effectively stopping its transit toward Iran. It remains unconfirmed whether there are any casualties aboard the vessel. Centcom reported that this operation is part of an ongoing enforcement of the blockade on Iranian ports, which persists despite an existing ceasefire with Iran. The command further stated that it has disabled five commercial vessels and intercepted 116 others as part of these enforcement actions.