U.S. Aircraft Fires Hellfire Missile into Engine Room of Cargo Vessel Lian Star in Gulf of Oman

A U.S. aircraft fired a Hellfire missile into the engine room of the Gambia-flagged general cargo vessel Lian Star in international waters in the Gulf of Oman on May 29, disabling the vessel after the crew ignored more than 20 warnings that they were in violation of the U.S. naval blockade.

Lian Star is a 1,600 DWT, 71-metre general cargo vessel built in 1993 and UAE-owned. The vessel was transiting toward an Iranian port at the time of the strike. AIS data from ShipAtlas showed the vessel broadcasting a voyage from Pakistan to Iraq. The ship is reportedly adrift following the strike and has not been boarded. No crew casualty information has been publicly confirmed.

The strike brings the total of U.S.-disabled vessels to five and the total of vessels redirected since the blockade began on April 13 to 116.

Investigation and damage assessment are ongoing.