Dramatic footage released by CENTCOM shows the moment U.S. Marines boarded and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday — the first direct seizure since the Trump administration imposed its naval blockade of Iranian ports.
A US Navy guided-missile destroyer destroyed the engine room of the suspected shadow fleet ship after the crew refused repeated warnings to stop and turn back. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit then rappelled from helicopters onto the disabled vessel to take control.
President Trump announced the capture on Truth Social, saying Marines had “full custody” of the ship and were “seeing what’s on board.”
The Touska is owned by Iran’s national maritime carrier, the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, and has been under U.S. sanctions since 2018. A review of shipping data by Newsweek found the vessel had made multiple trips to Chinese ports — including Zhuhai, a port previously identified as a key location where Iran obtains precursors for rocket fuel used in its ballistic missiles.
The ship departed Iranian waters in late February and docked at Zhuhai on March 9. It later went dark for two and a half days — a common practice of so-called “shadow fleet” vessels that violates international law — before resurfacing for another port call in Zhuhai on March 29. It stopped in Malaysia on April 3 before heading back toward Iran.
Iran’s military claimed its crew did not fight back because they had family members on board.
“They faced constraints in order to protect their lives and ensure their safety, as they were in danger at every moment,” Iran said through a spokesman.
Tehran vowed to retaliate and said they would launch drone strikes on U.S. naval ships, though those strikes have not happened.
The blockade was put in place after Iran bombed civilian ships attempting to access to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil shipments.
Take a look –
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