Pentagon officials announced Friday that American military personnel seized control of a sanctioned ship without national registration in the Indian Ocean during an overnight mission.
The Indo-Pacific Command identified the vessel as M/T DAVINA and explained the boarding operation in a social media statement.
“We will continue global maritime enforcement to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels providing material support to Iran, wherever they operate,” the command stated in its Friday post.
The seizure represents the latest action in escalating maritime tensions, as the United States has established a naval blockade targeting Iran’s ocean commerce. Meanwhile, Iranian forces have attacked vessels to block passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane leading into the Middle East Gulf.
American naval forces have stopped numerous merchant ships and petroleum tankers in the Indian Ocean over recent months as part of these enforcement operations.
