Ship Near Strait of Hormuz Sends Distress Call After 'Unknown Projectile' Attack

A merchant vessel identified as the Disha issued a distress call near the Strait of Hormuz after reporting an attack by an unknown projectile, with 30 crew members on board, according to audio from a shipboard radio public channel provided by a seaman and reported by Jiemian News. In a separate recording, a speaker identified by the seaman as a U.S. official warned another merchant ship, the Ravn, not to continue toward Iran and said the ship was violating relevant requirements; the speaker also said forces were preparing to fire on its engine room and ordered the crew to evacuate within a set time. Vessel records show Ravn and Disha are the same ship, which was renamed Disha in May. U.S. Central Command said on July 14 that U.S. forces had resumed a maritime blockade targeting vessels traveling to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas, effective 4 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time that day, or 3 a.m. Beijing time on July 15.