CENTCOM: U.S. forces disable and seize Iranian-flagged vessel bound for Bandar Abbas

U.S. Central Command announced that American forces operating in the Arabian Sea disabled and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel on April 19 after it allegedly attempted to breach the U.S. naval blockade while heading toward Bandar Abbas.

According to the official military statement, the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) intercepted the M/V Touska in the northern Arabian Sea as it sailed at 17 knots toward the Iranian port.

Six-hour confrontation at sea

CENTCOM stated that American forces issued multiple warnings and notified the crew that the vessel was in violation of the blockade. After the crew failed to comply over a six-hour period, Spruance ordered the evacuation of the engine room.

“Spruance disabled Touska’s propulsion by firing several rounds from the destroyer’s 5-inch MK 45 Gun into Touska’s engine room.”

U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit later boarded the vessel, which remains in American custody.

Key details from the U.S. military statement

• The vessel was identified as the Iranian-flagged cargo ship M/V Touska.

• The interception took place in the north Arabian Sea.

• The ship was reportedly en route to Bandar Abbas, Iran.

• American forces issued warnings over a six-hour period.

• USS Spruance fired into the vessel’s engine room to disable propulsion.

• U.S. Marines boarded the ship and took control of it.

Blockade enforcement expands

CENTCOM described the operation as deliberate, professional, and proportional, framing it as part of a broader campaign to enforce the naval blockade now in place.

“Since the blockade’s commencement, U.S. forces have directed 25 commercial vessels to turn around or return to an Iranian port.”

The statement did not include further details on the vessel’s cargo, the condition of the crew, or whether any injuries were reported during the operation.