Iran conflict 2026: US destroyer disables Iranian cargo ship to enforce blockade

USS Spruance, shown here launching a Tomahawk missile during Operation ‘Epic Fury', intercepted and disabled an Iranian cargo ship to enforce the US blockade. (US Central Command)

US Guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) intercepted and then disabled Iranian cargo ship M/V Touska in the Arabian Sea on 19 April to enforce a US blockade of Iranian ports in the region, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement that day.

Touska was attempting to sail toward an Iranian port, CENCOM said. The cargo ship transited the north Arabian Sea at 17 kt enroute to Bandar Abbas, Iran, the command said, adding, “American forces issued multiple warnings and informed the Iranian-flagged vessel it was in violation of the US blockade.”

CENTCOM said, “After Touska 's crew failed to comply with repeated warnings over a six-hour period, Spruance directed the vessel to evacuate its engine room. Spruance disabled Touska 's propulsion by firing several rounds from the destroyer's 5-inch Mk 45 gun into Touska 's engine room. US marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit later boarded the non-compliant vessel, which remains in US custody.”

Since the blockade's commencement, US forces have directed 25 commercial vessels to turn around or return to an Iranian port as of 19 April.

For more, please see Iran conflict 2026: CENTCOM reports US blockade has stopped Iranian sea trade