U.S. disables merchant ship breaching Iran blockade

The United States and Iran exchanged military strikes for a thirteenth consecutive night on Friday, July 24, 2026, with no sign of de-escalation as both sides targeted commercial shipping and military installations across the Persian Gulf region. The sustained conflict has effectively closed the vital Strait of Hormuz, sending global energy prices soaring and stranding thousands of mariners.

On Friday, U.S. forces disabled the merchant vessel MT Lavine in the Gulf of Oman after it attempted to breach the American naval blockade of Iranian ports at least four times, according to U.S. Central Command. A spokesman said the ship was warned and did not comply before its engine room was fired upon. It was the second commercial ship disabled since the blockade was reimposed, with U.S. forces also reporting they had redirected twelve other vessels.

Simultaneously, Iran targeted American positions. Security officials in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil reported U.S.-led forces shot down five explosive-laden drones near the airport, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed strikes on a U.S. base in Kuwait and a watchtower for the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. Bahrain and Jordan...