US Marines launched an airborne boarding operation in the Arabian Sea on April 19, seizing the Iranian-flagged commercial vessel after it failed to comply with repeated warnings from US forces.
According to official information, the Marines departed the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) by helicopter and transited over the Arabian Sea before inserting onto the containership M/V Touska.
The boarding team rappelled from the aircraft onto the deck of Touska, securing control of the ship.
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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… pic.twitter.com/mFxI5RzYCS
Earlier on, guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) intercepted the vessel as it transited the north Arabian Sea at 17 knots en route to Bandar Abbas, Iran.
American forces issued multiple warnings and informed the Iranian-flagged vessel that it violated the US blockade.
After Touska’s crew failed to comply with repeated warnings for over six hours, Spruance directed the vessel to evacuate its engine room. The destroyer disabled Touska’s propulsion by firing several rounds from the destroyer’s 5-inch MK 45 Gun into the engine room.
Since the blockade’s commencement, US forces have directed 25 commercial vessels to turn around or return to an Iranian port.