The US Central Command for the Middle East (CENTCOM) has released a video showing US Marines boarding the Iranian-flagged cargo ship Touska from helicopters.
The video shows soldiers climbing off the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli, then descending by ropes to the deck of the ship and taking control. The US military says it warned the crew hours in advance.
According to the same information, the ship was disabled after the destroyer USS Spruance opened fire on the equipment room using the ship's cannon, which stopped its movement.
US 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 the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) disabled Touska's… pic.twitter.com/mFxI5RzYCS
- US Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 20, 2026
The Central Command of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps also issued a statement, stressing that a response to the American action was being prepared.
"The aggressive America violated the ceasefire and maritime piracy by shooting down one of the merchant ships in the waters of the Sea of Oman and disabling its navigation system by landing some of its terrorist sailors on board the aforementioned ship," Tehran said.
The incident comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions between the United States and Iran, with a fragile ceasefire in place since the war began in late March. Iran previously restricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's main oil shipping lanes, while the United States responded by blocking Iranian ports.
Such measures led to disruptions in global energy trade and further increased tensions in markets.
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