The US seized anIranian-flagged cargo shipthat allegedly tried to get around a naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz. This is the first such interception since the blockade of Iranian ports began last week. The US has now released the visuals of the operation.

According to US Central Command, the operation involved personnel from the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA-7) and the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG-111). US forces said the cargo vessel, identified as M/V Touska, failed to comply with repeated warnings over a period of nearly six hours while transiting through the Arabian Sea.

Following the non-compliance, the USS Spruance disabled the ship’s propulsion system, effectively bringing it to a halt.

Then, subsequently, US Marines launched from the USS Tripoli via helicopters and carried out an airborne boarding operation. Dramatic visuals show Marines rappelling onto the deck of the vessel before securing control.

"U.S. Marines depart amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) by helicopter and transit over the Arabian Sea to board and seize M/V Touska. The Marines rappelled onto the Iranian-flagged vessel, April 19, after guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) disabled Touska’s propulsion when the commercial ship failed to comply with repeated warnings from U.S. forces over a six-hour period," the CENTCOM posted on X.

Earlier, the US Central Command had released amessagesent by a US Mariner to the Iranian-flagged tanker in a video posted on X, saying it shows the moments before the US seized Touska.

US President Donald Trump said that the US Navy guided missile destroyer in the Gulf of Oman "stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engine room" and that U.S. Marines had custody of the vessel, named Touska, and were "seeing what’s on board!"

Iran's military vowed swift response to US seizure of Iranian-flagged tanker. Hours later, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) reportedly forced US troops to retreat from the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media.

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Apoorva Shukla is a journalist at Times Now, where she thrives on dissecting political developments both at home and abroad. A graduate of Delhi Univ...View More

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