US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American naval forces intercepted and disabled an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Arabian Sea.
According to CENTCOM, the vessel was heading toward an Iranian port when it was stopped as part of US naval blockade enforcement. The guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) intercepted the ship, identified as M/V Touska, while it was traveling through the northern Arabian Sea at a speed of 17 knots en route to Bandar Abbas.
CENTCOM stated that US forces issued multiple warnings, informing the vessel it was violating the blockade. After the crew failed to respond over a six-hour period, the Spruance ordered the crew to evacuate the engine room.
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
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 20, 2026
The destroyer then fired several rounds from its 5-inch MK 45 gun, disabling the ship’s propulsion.
US Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit later boarded the vessel, which is now in US custody. CENTCOM said the operation was carried out in a deliberate, professional, and proportional manner.
President Donald Trump also confirmed the incident, saying US naval forces stopped the ship after it attempted to breach the blockade in the Gulf of Oman.
He stated that the vessel was halted by firing into its engine room and noted that it is under US Treasury sanctions for prior illegal activity. He added that its cargo is now being inspected.
CENTCOM further said that since the blockade began, US forces have turned back or redirected 25 commercial vessels.
However, Iranian media presented a different account, claiming that Iranian military ships responded to the US action by firing on American vessels, forcing them to withdraw.
