US Marines storm Iranian tanker in dramatic Gulf seizure after engine strike

US forces have seized an Iranian-flagged tanker in a dramatic naval operation in the Gulf of Oman, after Marines reportedly boarded the vessel following what officials described as its failure to comply with repeated warnings in waters near the Strait of Hormuz.

Footage released by US Central Command shows Marines descending from helicopters onto the vessel before securing control of the ship, identified as the M/V Touska, during a coordinated operation involving a US destroyer and an amphibious assault ship.

According to Central Command, the operation began after the vessel allegedly ignored instructions for six hours while attempting to pass through contested waters in the Gulf region.

The US Navy said the ship was subsequently disabled before boarding teams were deployed.

A statement published on social media said Marines “rappelled onto the Iranian-flagged vessel” after the destroyer USS Spruance “disabled Touska’s propulsion when the commercial ship failed to comply with repeated warnings”.

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 US President, Donald Trump, confirmed the seizure, claiming the tanker attempted to breach what he described as a naval blockade. Posting on his Truth Social platform, he said the vessel was “stopped right in their tracks”, adding that the crew had refused to comply with instructions.

The operation marks one of the most serious maritime confrontations in the region in recent months, coming amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran and growing instability in shipping lanes critical to global energy flows.

Iran has not yet publicly responded to the incident.

The seizure is likely to raise further concerns over security in the Gulf, where commercial shipping has already been disrupted by escalating geopolitical tensions and repeated warnings over potential interference with tanker traffic.

Military analysts say the incident underscores the fragility of maritime security in one of the world’s most strategically important waterways, where even limited confrontations risk rapid escalation.