On 19th April, the US forces enforcing a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz intercepted, struck and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel named Touska.
As per a statement issued by the US Department of War, “US forces operating in the Arabian Sea enforced naval blockade measures against an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel attempting to sail toward an Iranian port.”
The American authorities claimed that a guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) intercepted M/V Touska as it transited the north Arabian Sea at 17 knots en route to Bandar Abbas, Iran.
American forces claimed to have issued multiple warnings and informed the Iranian-flagged vessel that it violated the US blockade. It added that the Iranian-flagged ship refused to comply with the warnings issued by USS Spruance for over six hours.
U.S. forces operating in the Arabian Sea enforced naval blockade measures against an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel attempting to sail toward an Iranian port, April 19.
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) April 19, 2026
Guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) intercepted M/V Touska as it transited the north Arabian Sea at… https://t.co/iyzOQd93C3 pic.twitter.com/HwU4XS48Oq
Consequently, the American forces directed the Iranian vessel to evacuate its engine room, and carried out several rounds of firing from the destroyer’s 5-inch MK 45 Gun into Touska’s 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 Touska’s engine room. U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit later boarded the non-compliant vessel, which remains in U.S. custody. American forces acted in a deliberate, professional, and proportional manner to ensure compliance. Since the blockade’s commencement, U.S. forces have directed 25 commercial vessels to turn around or return to an Iranian port,” the US Department of War said.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to boast about the US attack and seizure of the Iranian cargo vessel and said, “Today, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA, nearly 900 feet long and weighing almost as much as an aircraft carrier, tried to get past our Naval Blockade, and it did not go well for them. The U.S. Navy Guided Missile Destroyer USS SPRUANCE intercepted the TOUSKA in the Gulf of Oman, and gave them fair warning to stop.”
“The Iranian crew refused to listen, so our Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engine room. Right now, U.S. Marines have custody of the vessel. The TOUSKA is under U.S. Treasury Sanctions because of their prior history of illegal activity. We have full custody of the ship, and are seeing what’s on board!” he continued.
