U.S. fires on ship breaching Iran blockade as Hormuz standoff escalates

U.S. fires on ship breaching Iran blockade as Hormuz standoff escalates

A military helicopter targeted the Panama-flagged vessel's rudder after its crew ignored warnings, marking the blockade's most forceful action yet.

U.S. forces opened fire on Tuesday on a ship attempting to breach the naval blockade of Iranian ports, targeting its rudder from a helicopter, according to a U.S. official. wsj

More than 20 warships enforce the blockade, which has collapsed strait traffic to a handful of daily transits versus a pre-war norm of over 130, according to CENTCOM.

Diplomatic prospects dimmed as Washington and Tehran traded compensation demands, with Iran saying the strait "cannot be lifted through diplomacy" alone.