Image Credits: US Centcom The United States military said it disabled a commercial vessel that was sailing toward an Iranian port after the crew allegedly ignored more than 20 warnings from US forces. According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), the Gambia-flagged vessel M/V Lian Star was travelling through international waters in the Gulf of Oman on May 29 when it was identified as heading toward an Iranian port in violation of US blockade measures. CENTCOM said US forces repeatedly warned the vessel and informed its crew that it was violating the blockade. After the ship failed to comply, a US aircraft fired a Hellfire missile into the vessel’s engine room, disabling the ship and preventing it from continuing its voyage to Iran. “The ship is no longer transiting to Iran,” CENTCOM said in a statement. The command did not identify the aircraft involved in the operation. The incident is part of a maritime enforcement campaign launched by Washington following the conflict with Iran. According to CENTCOM, US forces have now disabled five commercial vessels and redirected 116 others while enforcing the blockade as a ceasefire between the two countries remains in effect. The blockade was launched on April 17 after Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz following the outbreak of hostilities that began with US and Israeli strikes on February 28. Although a ceasefire has been in place since April 7, tensions remain high in the region. The Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz are among the world’s most important shipping routes. The waterway handles a significant share of global oil and liquefied natural gas exports, making any disruption a concern for shipping companies, energy markets and global trade. AGM-114 Hellfire Missile The AGM-114 Hellfire is a precision-guided air-to-surface missile widely used by US military aircraft, helicopters and unmanned systems. Originally developed for anti-armour missions, it is increasingly employed in mariti