The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that the Iranian-flagged cargo ship 'Touska,' sailing in the Arabian Sea, was struck and seized for allegedly violating the blockade.

Tensions between the U.S. and Iran continue to escalate. The U.S. military shared details of the operation against the Iranian vessel, which was reported to be non-compliant with the maritime blockade in the region.

A 6-hour warning went unheeded.

According to the statement from CENTCOM, the USS Spruance destroyer, patrolling the Arabian Sea, took action to stop the Touska vessel, which was heading towards the port of Bandar Abbas. The crew of the ship was reportedly warned multiple times over a span of 6 hours about their violation of the U.S. blockade, but these warnings were ignored.

Engine room targeted.

After the warnings went unheeded, U.S. forces initiated an operation aimed at incapacitating the ship's mobility. Following orders for the crew to evacuate the engine room, the USS Spruance destroyer fired upon the ship's engine room. After the vessel lost its mobility, U.S. Marines boarded the ship and took control.

Tensions in the Arabian Sea: U.S. strikes Iranian vessel.

IHA Entry Date: 2026-04-20 05:53 Update Date: 2026-04-20 06:12.

Trump announced, Iran denied.

The first statement regarding the operation came from U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump announced that the ship was struck and rendered ineffective, and that it had been seized, while Iranian media initially denied these claims. However, the detailed report shared by CENTCOM confirmed that the operation took place.

'25 ships turned back.'

In its statement, CENTCOM asserted that the operation was conducted in a 'measured, professional, and proportional' manner. It was also shared that since the beginning of the blockade, U.S. forces have instructed 25 commercial vessels to change their routes or head to an Iranian port.

Source: SeaNews Türkiye