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US forces attempting to board sanctioned Russian-flagged oil tanker in North Atlantic, sources say
Fox News ^ | 1/07/26 | Ashley Carnahan, Jennifer Griffin

Posted on 01/07/2026 6:17:09 AM PST by Libloather

U.S. forces are attempting to board the Russian-flagged Marinera oil tanker in the North Atlantic Sea, sources told Fox News.

The news, first reported by Reuters, comes after The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that Russia had sent a submarine and other naval assets to escort the tanker.

The vessel, previously operating under the name Bella 1, has spent more than two weeks attempting to slip past U.S. enforcement efforts targeting sanctioned oil shipments near Venezuela, the outlet reported.

U.S. Southern Command, which oversees U.S. military activities in Latin America and the Caribbean, said on X that it "remains ready to support our U.S. Government agency partners in standing against sanctioned vessels and actors transiting through this region."

"Our sea services are vigilant, agile, and postured to track vessels of interest. When the call comes, we will be there," the post read.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in December that the U.S. Coast Guard, with support from the Department of War, seized a second oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Conspiracy; History; Local News
KEYWORDS: 5thcolumnonfr; aburdzeeping; atlantic; bella; bella1; dukeywordtroll; falseflag; flagmural; hezbollah; marinera; mvbella; mvbella1; nevertrumpkywrdtroll; oil; reflagged; russia; sanctionedtanker; sanctionsbusting; shadowfleet; smuggling; tanker; tdskeywordtroll; transponder; transponderoff; trumpswar; venezuela; zeepersinhysterics
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"The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund narco terrorism in the region," said Noem. "We will find you, and we will stop you."

Kristi Noem is hotter than hot.

1 posted on 01/07/2026 6:17:09 AM PST by Libloather
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To: Libloather
So... now we're at war.

Zelensky must be happy.

2 posted on 01/07/2026 6:23:18 AM PST by T.B. Yoits
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To: Libloather

“Kristi Noem is hotter than hot.”

Certainly true in one area, so I guess we’ll forgive her for saying yesterday that the Illegals from Venezuela can stay here as long as they claim asylum.


3 posted on 01/07/2026 6:24:49 AM PST by BobL (Trusting one's doctor is the #1 health mistake one can make.)
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To: Libloather

Corey Lewandowski would agree with you.


4 posted on 01/07/2026 6:27:04 AM PST by Cen-Tejas
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To: Libloather

I do not think attempting to board a Russian-flagged tanker a good idea.

Yeouch!


5 posted on 01/07/2026 6:30:10 AM PST by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: FreedomPoster

From what I understand, the crew painted a Russian flag on the hull to deter any attempts at being pursued and stopped.


6 posted on 01/07/2026 6:34:14 AM PST by LastDayz (A Blunt and Brazen Texan. I Will Not Be Assimilated.)
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To: Libloather

Where is the “North Atlantic Sea?”


7 posted on 01/07/2026 6:34:19 AM PST by Alberta's Child ("There's somebody new and he sure ain't no rodeo man.")
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To: Libloather

Russia sent the only sub it still has.


8 posted on 01/07/2026 6:34:25 AM PST by Mlheureux
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To: FreedomPoster

“I do not think attempting to board a Russian-flagged tanker a good idea. Yeouch!”

Well, it’s either a dry run for going after Russian tankers in an attempt to shutdown their oil exports, or perhaps it’s Trump claiming that we own the Western Hemisphere (with the implication that Russia can then take care of its own backyard).

I hope it’s the second, and I’m cool with that. If it’s the first, start digging shelters.


9 posted on 01/07/2026 6:36:59 AM PST by BobL (Trusting one's doctor is the #1 health mistake one can make.)
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To: Alberta's Child

Pretty sure it’s next to the Gulf of America.


10 posted on 01/07/2026 6:37:17 AM PST by Libloather (Why do climate change hoax deniers live in mansions on the beach?)
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To: BobL

I don’t forgive her.


11 posted on 01/07/2026 6:37:42 AM PST by 9YearLurker
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To: BobL

They are all going to Colombia. That don’t need to come to the U.S. for ASSylum. They need to go to Colombia.


12 posted on 01/07/2026 6:39:12 AM PST by FlingWingFlyer (You can vote your way into Communism but you have to shoot your way out. Good Luck New Yawk.)
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To: FreedomPoster

Reports now say that we’ve boarded it and are in control.


13 posted on 01/07/2026 6:40:20 AM PST by Buckeye Battle Cry (Progressivism is socialism. Venezuela is how it ends.)
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To: Libloather

The Bella 1 has been under U.S. sanctions since last year for transporting Iranian oil that authorities say helps finance terrorism and is part of a ghost fleet of aging tankers that move sanctioned crude, …

Running without a transponder, supposedly empty but not acting the part, not properly registered, piece of junk …


14 posted on 01/07/2026 6:41:50 AM PST by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge)
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To: Libloather

During the Second World War, the US kept its forward bases closest to the European mainland and the Japanese Empire resupplied with convoys of Merchant Marine ships, traveling with warship escort, which made a huge difference in the ability to contain both the Imperial fleet of Japan and the U-Boat patrols of the Third Reich. Together with the virtual pack trains of C-47s traversing the world, the sheer volume of the war goods and supporting logistics of food, fuel, and non=war materials eventually swamped the ability of the Germans and the Japanese to defend their own homelands.


15 posted on 01/07/2026 6:42:02 AM PST by alloysteel (Coming in high, hot, blind, dead-stick, wheels up, outta gas, and the glide angle of a brick....)
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To: Alberta's Child

Uh.... in the North Atlantic.


16 posted on 01/07/2026 6:42:12 AM PST by LastDayz (A Blunt and Brazen Texan. I Will Not Be Assimilated.)
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To: FlingWingFlyer

“(They) don’t need to come to the U.S. for ASSylum. They need to go to Colombia.”

Absolutely. After all, how do we screen people from a terrorist nation?


17 posted on 01/07/2026 6:45:30 AM PST by BobL (Trusting one's doctor is the #1 health mistake one can make.)
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To: 9YearLurker

“I don’t forgive her.”

But she’s HOT!!! That seems to be good enough for half of the people here, apparently.


18 posted on 01/07/2026 6:47:42 AM PST by BobL (Trusting one's doctor is the #1 health mistake one can make.)
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To: FreedomPoster

it isn’t really a Russian flagged tanker, it was registered elsewhere. All they did was slap some paint on it like a gay pride mural on a Portland street.

They have been playing games with their transponder, traveling unlawfully.

It is supposedly empty but its captain is acting more like he has something on board he shouldn’t since it showed up in the Caribbean.

Maybe Pootie sent him to pick up a load of Colombian snow or ripped off gold, or they have some wanted guys on board.


19 posted on 01/07/2026 6:48:23 AM PST by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge)
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US forces seize sanctioned, Russia-flagged oil tanker that eluded Venezuela blockade

https://nypost.com/2026/01/07/us-news/us-forces-board-sanctioned-russia-flagged-oil-tanker-that-eluded-venezuela-blockade/


20 posted on 01/07/2026 6:49:52 AM PST by Libloather (Why do climate change hoax deniers live in mansions on the beach?)
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