Washington: U.S. Central Command released new footage on Monday documenting the high-stakes maritime seizure of the Iranian-flagged motor vessel Touska, featuring U.S. Marines conducting a tactical rappelling operation to take control of the ship in the Gulf of Oman.

The video, shared on the social media platform X, shows a contingent of Marines departing the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) via helicopter. The personnel are seen transiting over the Arabian Sea before descending by ropes onto the deck of the container ship.

“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 CENTCOM post stated. "The Marines rappelled onto the Iranian-flagged vessel, April 19, after guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) disabled Touska’s propulsion when the commercial ship failed to comply with repeated warnings from U.S. forces over a six-hour period.”

The Interdiction

The Touska was intercepted while travelling at 17 knots toward the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. According to military officials, the ship's crew ignored multiple directives to halt or turn back, prompting the USS Spruance to employ its Mark 45 5-inch deck gun. The destroyer fired several rounds into the vessel's engine room to disable its propulsion without sinking it.

Following the disabling fire, Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) executed the boarding. The vessel remains in U.S. custody and is currently being inspected.

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Naval Blockade Enforcement

This operation marks a major escalation in the U.S.-led blockade of Iranian ports, which began last week following renewed hostilities in the region. CENTCOM noted that while 25 commercial vessels have been directed to turn around or return to port since the blockade’s inception, the Touska is the first to be physically seized by force.

The seizure has further strained a fragile regional ceasefire that is set to expire this Wednesday. While the U.S. maintains its actions were "deliberate, professional, and proportional," Iranian military commands have denounced the boarding as an act of piracy, leaving the status of upcoming diplomatic talks in Pakistan highly uncertain.