CENTCOM releases footage showing US Marines seizing Iranian-flagged vessel in Arabian Sea

WASHINGTON, DC: After President Donald Trump claimed that the US Navy seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship that had bypassed the blockade, US Central Command (CENTCOM) shared a new video showing US Marines capturing the vessel in the Arabian Sea.

Earlier, the US Navy confirmed intercepting the vessel approaching Iranian ports despite a warning to comply with the blockade.

US Marines rappel onto Iranian-flagged vessel

The video shared late Sunday, April 19, shows the US Navy personnel launching from the USS Tripoli (LHA-7) and boarding the Iranian-flagged vessel M/V Touska to capture it.

In the 33-second video, Navy personnel are clearly seen jumping on the container loaded on a commercial ship.

The capture of the ship came after six hours of standoff involving the destabilization of the ship’s propulsion before Marines boarded the cargo to take control.

“The Marines rappelled onto the Iranian-flagged vessel, April 19, after guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) disabled Touska’s propulsion,” the CENTCOM wrote in the caption of the video, asserting that the Iranian commercial ship did not comply with the blockade even after repeated warnings for six hours. 

CENTCOM confirms firing on ship

Earlier on Sunday, CENTCOM confirmed firing on an Iranian ship attempting to enter Iranian ports despite the US’ maritime blockade.

CENTCOM revealed the standoff in an X post, stating that Spruance directed the vessel to evacuate its engine room after the ship's crew failed to comply with the US Navy’s warning for hours.

“U.S. forces operating in the Arabian Sea enforced naval blockade measures against an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel attempting to sail toward an Iranian port, April 19,” CENTCOM said.

The intercepted Iranian vessel, M/V Touska, was en route to Bandar Abbas, Iran.

CENTCOM elaborates on interception

“American forces issued multiple warnings and informed the Iranian-flagged vessel it was in violation of the US blockade,” CENTCOM added, elaborating on how a guided-missile destroyer, USS Spruance (DDG-111), approached the mission.

“Spruance disabled Touska’s propulsion by firing several rounds from the destroyer’s 5-inch MK 45 Gun into Touska’s engine room,” CENTCOM said before adding that US Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit “later boarded the non-compliant vessel, which remains in US custody.”

CENTCOM reiterated that the US Marines operated in an absolute professional manner to pursue the vessel in order to ensure blockade compliance.

Trump addresses action

Trump also addressed the incident, stating that the vessel had ignored warnings and was stopped by force.

“Today, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA, nearly 900 feet long and weighing almost as much as an aircraft carrier, tried to get past our naval blockade, and it did not go well for them,” he said.