A US Navy destroyer fired on an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman, disabling its engine before Marines boarded the vessel. The incident was confirmed by US Central Command. The operation reportedly followed hours of warnings to the ship’s crew.
US Central Command stated that the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance intercepted the M/V Touska as it attempted to navigate through the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel was reportedly trying to reach the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas despite a US-imposed naval blockade.
CENTCOM released a video showing the destroyer engaging the cargo ship. The footage depicts the warship firing on the vessel before US Marines boarded it. The operation took place after what officials described as a prolonged standoff.
According to CENTCOM, the crew of the M/V Touska did not respond to repeated warnings over a six-hour period. The US Navy then ordered the crew to evacuate the engine room.
“After Touska’s crew failed to comply with repeated warnings over a six-hour period, Spruance directed the vessel to evacuate its engine room. Spruance disabled Touska’s propulsion by firing several rounds from the destroyer’s 5-inch Mk 45 gun into the engine room,” CENTCOM said, adding that a team from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit later boarded the vessel.
The statement indicated that disabling the ship’s propulsion was necessary to prevent it from continuing its course. The Marines boarded the vessel after the engine was rendered inoperable.
The interception occurred amid heightened tensions in the region, with the US maintaining a naval blockade in the area. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime passage for global oil shipments, making security incidents there particularly sensitive.
US officials have not yet provided further details about the cargo or the crew’s intentions. The release of the video by CENTCOM is seen as an effort to demonstrate transparency regarding the use of force in the operation.
CENTCOM has indicated that more information will be released as it becomes available. The fate of the M/V Touska and its crew remains unclear at this stage.
The incident is likely to draw attention from both regional and international observers, given the strategic importance of the Gulf of Oman. Further updates are expected as investigations continue and diplomatic responses emerge.