U.S. forces have disabled an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel in the Arabian Sea after it did not comply with warnings, according to U.S. Central Command.
The guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance intercepted the vessel, identified as M/V Touska, as it transited towards Bandar Abbas. U.S. forces issued multiple warnings over a six-hour period, the command said.
After the vessel did not comply, USS Spruance directed the crew to evacuate the engine room and fired rounds from its 5-inch gun, disabling the ship’s propulsion, according to the command.
U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit later boarded the vessel, which remains in U.S. custody, the command stated.
CENTCOM said the action was taken as part of enforcement of a U.S. naval blockade and described it as “deliberate, professional, and proportional”.
The command added that 25 commercial vessels have been directed to turn around or return to port since the blockade began.
It’s like an episode of TEAM AMERICA, I really wonder what the US navy is going to do with more than a handful of full super tankers who’s engine rooms have been shot out by 5 inch gun fire.
Where are they going to park them for a start when the UK has already ruled out using Diego Garcia to enforce the blockade.
How many tugs will it take to get one back to port and what port will let them in if your looking at a permanently stranded vessel probably under US and EU sanctions.
This is the problem with populist politicians peddling “simple” solutions.
Believe i heard Tulsa on the video on BBC News? USS Tulsa Independence Class LCS. Maybe this is the mission that will vindicate them?
Didn’t read the article before i posted 😩. Must have heard Touska….
I think the hostilities are going to kick off again, Iran’s regime won’t compromise, and neither will the US.
To make the Straits safe, the US would have to completely degrade the IRGC capabilities, something that would take months of bombing and would probably require some (possibly temporary) land incursions/raids.
Iran plays the long game, thinking that the US and the global economy does not have the stamina/will for a long conflict.
But then again, the world has had 47 years to think about this problem.
More pipelines and transport systems to Red Sea ports could have been built by now.
Good god, Can the US act any more like terrorists?