How US Marines stormed an Iranian tanker in the Strait of Hormuz

WorldPolitics
20 Apr 2026 • 8:10 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

How US Marines stormed an Iranian tanker in the Strait of Hormuz

  • US naval forces intercepted an Iranian-flagged commercial tanker, the Touska, near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday after a six-hour stand-off.
  • The Touska reportedly ignored repeated warnings to stop, leading the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance to fire at its engine room to disable it.
  • US Marines subsequently rappelled onto the vessel from the USS Tripoli, boarding and seizing the ship, which is under US Treasury Sanctions.
  • This incident marks the first interception of an Iranian vessel since the US implemented a naval blockade on Iranian ports and coastal areas last week.
  • Donald Trump confirmed the US Navy's action, while Iran has condemned it as 'armed piracy' and vowed to retaliate.

IN FULL