{"id":4064,"date":"2026-01-07T18:31:36","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T18:31:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/badvibes.live\/?p=4064"},"modified":"2026-01-07T18:31:36","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T18:31:36","slug":"us-forces-dramatically-seize-russian-flagged-oil-tanker-in-the-atlantic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/badvibes.live\/?p=4064","title":{"rendered":"US forces dramatically seize Russian-flagged oil tanker in the Atlantic"},"content":{"rendered":"

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An oil tanker making its way to Russia and linked to both\u00a0Venezuela<\/a>\u00a0and Hezbollah has been seized by\u00a0US<\/a>\u00a0forces in a daring mission in the Atlantic.<\/p>\n

The seizure of Russian-flagged oil tanker Marinera was supported by the British armed forces, the Ministry of Defence revealed, claiming the ship was also linked to the Iranian-backed terror group Hezbollah.<\/p>\n

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters the captured crew would be \u2018brought to the United States for prosecution if necessary\u2019.<\/p>\n

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters the seizing of sanctioned or stateless oil tankers out of Venezuela will continue.<\/p>\n

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\u2018Our military is prepared to continue this,\u2019 Hegseth said.<\/p>\n

\u2018The president when he speaks, he means it. He\u2019s not messing around. We are an administration of action to advance our interests, and that is on full display.\u2019<\/p>\n

Was the UK involved in the capture?<\/h2>\n

The MoD said the supply ship RFA Tideforce and RAF surveillance aircraft assisted the US operation to seize the tanker, also known as the Bella 1.<\/p>\n

Defence Secretary John Healey said: \u2018Today our UK Armed Forces showed skill and professionalism in support of a successful US interception of the vessel Bella 1 while on its way to Russia. This action formed part of global efforts to crack down on sanctions busting.<\/p>\n

\u2018This ship, with a nefarious history, is part of a Russian-Iranian axis of sanctions evasion which is fuelling terrorism, conflict, and misery from the Middle East to Ukraine.<\/p>\n

\u2018The UK will continue to step up our action against shadow fleet activity to protect our national security, our economy, and global stability \u2013 making Britain secure at home and strong abroad.<\/p>\n

\u2018The US is the UK\u2019s closest defence and security partner. The depth of our defence relationship with the US is an essential part of our security, and today\u2019s seamlessly executed operation shows just how well this works in practice.\u2019<\/p>\n

The MoD added the ship had initially flown a false flag and is assessed to have been involved in illegal activity linked to Hezbollah.<\/p>\n

The US European Command, headquartered in Germany, confirmed today the seizure of the Marinera for \u2018violations of US sanctions\u2019.<\/p>\n

It said in a statement on\u00a0X<\/a>: \u2018The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a US federal court after being tracked by USCGC Munro.\u2019<\/p>\n

This comes as part of\u00a0Donald Trump\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0aggressive push to dictate oil flows in America\u2019s backyard.<\/p>\n

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\"U.S.<\/div>
The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Marinera is under US sanctions, and has spent at least two weeks attempting to evade a US blockade near\u00a0Venezuela.<\/p>\n

Ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic showed the tanker nearing Iceland\u2019s exclusive economic zone today.<\/p>\n

It holds such importance to the Kremlin that it deployed a submarine and other vessels to escort it across the Atlantic.<\/p>\n

The ship began its journey in\u00a0Iran<\/a>\u00a0and was bound for Venezuela to pick up oil, part of the\u00a0so-called shadow fleet that moves oil<\/a>\u00a0for\u00a0Russia, Iran and Venezuela despite mounting US and allied sanctions.<\/p>\n