News blog about the war in the Middle East
US helicopter fires on tankers in the Gulf of Oman
Updated August 11, 2026 – 9:55 p.mReading time: 25 minutes
The US Army continues its naval blockade against Iran. There should be new talks between Israel and Lebanon. All developments in the news blog.
US helicopter fires on tanker in Gulf of Oman
The US military has fired on a tanker trying to break the American blockade on Iranian ports. An MH-60 helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles at the Panamanian-flagged cargo ship “M/V Vela Nova” as it was heading toward an Iranian port, US regional command Centcom said on X. The crew had previously ignored “repeated warnings”.
It was initially unclear whether people were injured or killed in the incident. The British Maritime Safety Authority (UKMTO) had previously reported an incident in the Gulf of Oman. It was said that a container ship and armed forces were involved without naming a country.
The USA have been blocking Iranian ports and coastal areas again since mid-July. The aim of the blockade is, among other things, to deny Tehran revenue from oil exports. Ships will not be allowed to sail to or from Iranian ports. As a result, ships were repeatedly attacked and tankers were forced to change course.
US representative announces new Lebanon talks
In the Italian capital Rome There will be a new round of talks in September in the negotiations on a peace agreement between Israel and that Lebanon give. “The political representatives will meet in Rome at the beginning of September – until then the talks will take place in Beirut, Jerusalem and Washington “continued,” a US State Department official said on Tuesday. The US government is “confident about what will happen next.”
In June, under US mediation, Israel and Lebanon agreed on a framework agreement that provides for the disarmament of the Lebanese Hezbollah militia, a gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from the south of Lebanon and at the same time the deployment of the Lebanese army to the region. This should initially take place in two “pilot zones”, with additional areas to be added later. Last week the seventh round of talks between Israel and Lebanon was held in Rome.
The US diplomat now pointed out that the first steps had already been taken. Accordingly, the Lebanese army is already active in the first pilot zones, “and the working groups have coordinated their formulations, maps and procedures.” Next, the Lebanese government will “present detailed roadmaps for securing new areas.” While the Lebanese government negotiates with Israel, the pro-Iranian Hezbollah rejects all talks and refuses to give up its weapons.
