US Navy Forces 27 Ships To Return To Iranian Ports Since Naval Blockade Began Last Week

According to the U.S Central Command, the U.S Navy directed 27 ships to turn around or return to Iranian ports since the naval blockade of Iran’s port facilities began last week.

The blockade has targeted ships operating in Iranian coastal waters and those entering or leaving Iranian ports.

The US military also released video footage showing a helicopter-mounted serviceman pointing a heavy-calibre machine gun and issuing a radio warning to a cargo ship to turn back.

‘This is United States Warship 115. You are entering an area of a military blockade’, the warning said.

The U.S. has stated that the naval blockade is applicable to all ships irrespective of their flag, and if vessels tried to evade it, they could be intercepted by force.

Since the blockade began, U.S forces have directed atleast 27 ships to turn back to the Iranian ports.

They also boarded an Iranian-flagged cargo ship identified as Touska in the Arabian Sea.

Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit were deployed from the USS Tripoli and boarded the ship after the crew did not pay heed to the warnings.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance disabled the ship’s propulsion, and it is not under U.S control.

After matters in the Hormuz escalated, shipping activities dropped sharply, though the strait had been opened briefly over the weekend, allowing a few cruise ships to pass through.

Per reports, operators have turned their transponders off or altered signals, which has made full verification difficult.