US Navy disables ship and diverts 12 vessels in 13th night of blockade

The US Navy disabled one vessel and redirected 12 others on Friday, 24 July, as a maritime blockade entered its 13th consecutive night. The operations are part of a coordinated military campaign involving sustained strikes against Iranian-linked targets, marking one of the most significant escalations in regional naval tensions in decades. Pentagon officials confirmed that the redirected commercial and military vessels were intercepted within designated exclusion zones. One ship was rendered non-operational after failing to comply with maritime directives issued by the US Fifth Fleet, headquartered in Bahrain. The 13th night of strikes targeted coastal infrastructure and logistics hubs used to bypass the ongoing blockade. Naval Blockade Procedures The redirection of the 12 ships follows a strictly enforced "no-go" corridor established by US Central Command (CENTCOM). Defense officials stated that the disabled vessel was intercepted following multiple warnings, though the specific class of the ship and the nature of its cargo have not yet been disclosed. The US Navy is currently employing a tiered response system, ranging from electronic signaling to kinetic force, to prevent unauthorized transit through the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters. This military posture follows an official mandate to disrupt supply lines that the US claims are being used for destabilizing activities. The blockade has significantly impacted regional shipping lanes, forcing commercial…