Video: Moment US Marines rappelled onto Iran ship and seized it

A video has emerged showing US Marines rappelling from helicopters onto an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel and seizing control of it in the Arabian Sea.

According to US Central Command, the Marines departed the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) and flew over the Arabian Sea before boarding M/V Touska on April 19. The footage captures the moment troops descended onto the vessel during the operation.

CENTCOM said the Marines carried out the boarding after the ship failed to comply with repeated warnings over a six-hour period. The guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) disabled the vessel’s propulsion before the Marines rappelled onto it and seized control.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump said American forces had taken custody of the Iranian-flagged cargo vessel after it allegedly attempted to pass through a US naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz.

“Today, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA tried to get past our Naval Blockade, and it did not go well for them,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. He said the ship ignored warnings and was stopped by US Marines.

Trump added that US Marines have full custody of the vessel and are checking what is on board. He also alleged that the ship is under US Treasury sanctions due to previous “illegal activity” and said it was intercepted in the Gulf of Oman after ignoring repeated warnings from US forces.

– Ends