US Detains Oil Tanker in Indian Ocean

The United States has detained an oil tanker in the Indian Ocean that allegedly operated in violation of US sanctions. The Pentagon announced this on its page on the social media platform X.

The statement indicated that US forces were able to inspect, detain, and board the Aquila II without incident. It was noted that the forces acted within the area of responsibility of the US Indo-Pacific Command.

The Pentagon claimed that the tanker was operating in violation of the 'quarantine on ships under sanctions in the Caribbean basin.' US military personnel tracked the vessel on a route 'from the Caribbean basin to the Indian Ocean.'

On January 7, it was reported that US military personnel had detained the M/V Bella 1 (Mariner). The tanker, sailing under a Russian flag, was seized by US forces in the North Atlantic. US authorities maintained that the tanker was part of Venezuela's shadow fleet and announced intentions to target the crew.

Before its seizure, the vessel was located about 200-300 kilometers south of Iceland, on its way to Murmansk.