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U.S. Forces Seize Iranian Ship That Attempted to Evade Naval Blockade
Townhall ^ | 04/19/2026 | Joseph Chalfant

Posted on 04/19/2026 9:41:53 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

President Donald Trump announced Sunday afternoon that the United States Navy had captured and taken custody of an Iranian-flagged merchant vessel that had attempted to run the blockade established at the Strait of Hormuz.

BREAKING: President Trump just announced the US military has SEIZED an Iranian cargo ship which attempted to GET PASSED America’s Naval blockade

President Trump wasn’t bluffing.

“It did not go well for them.

The U.S. Navy Guided Missile Destroyer USS SPRUANCE intercepted the TOUSKA in the Gulf of Oman, and gave them fair warning to stop.

The Iranian crew refused to listen, so our Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom. Right now, U.S. Marines have custody of the vessel.”

pic.twitter.com/hxKGnZMuQZ— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) April 19, 2026

TRUMP: "Today, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA, nearly 900 feet long and weighing almost as much as an aircraft carrier, tried to get past our Naval Blockade, and it did not go well for them. The U.S. Navy Guided Missile Destroyer USS SPRUANCE intercepted the TOUSKA in…

pic.twitter.com/YD8nEsKkPa— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) April 19, 2026

Trump stated that the USS Spruance, a guided missile destroyer, had intercepted the Iranian-flagged cargo vessel Touska. American forces then warned the Touska to cease their attempt to evade the blockade. After the Iranians refused to comply, the Spruance then “stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the [engine room,]” according to Trump.

Trump further indicated that U.S. Marines now maintained control of the vessel and have begun a search.

This is the second time that the Spruance has gained publicity during the blockade, as the ship had previously conducted one of the first stoppages of a ship after the United States began the blockade days ago.

CENTCOM: “Yesterday, an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel tried to evade the U.S. blockade after leaving Bandar Abbas, exiting the Strait of Hormuz, and transiting along the Iranian coastline. The guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) successfully redirected the vessel, which is heading back to Iran.

Ten vessels have now been turned around and ZERO ships have broken through since the start of the U.S. blockade on Monday.”

pic.twitter.com/zhEolRCqlM— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) April 16, 2026

Tensions continue to rise amid the ceasefire between the two nations, which are slated to hold peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan on Tuesday.,



TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Iran; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: blockade; fafo; hormuz; iran; navy; shipping
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1 posted on 04/19/2026 9:41:53 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Arleigh Burke class, one of the newer ones.

CC


2 posted on 04/19/2026 9:52:58 PM PDT by Celtic Conservative (Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam!)
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To: Celtic Conservative

Commissioned in 2011.


3 posted on 04/19/2026 9:56:30 PM PDT by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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To: SeekAndFind

“Tensions continue to rise”. You don’t say! How much higher can they go?


4 posted on 04/19/2026 10:01:09 PM PDT by webheart (Notice how I said all of that without any hyphens, and only complete words?)
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To: SeekAndFind

It is easy to disable this freight carrier. Disable an Iranian oil tanker, and you might get a spectacular blaze that will be used in worldwide media, against our Iran war.


5 posted on 04/19/2026 10:07:12 PM PDT by dennisw (Qatarlson the Insufferable blowhard ////////////////////////// There is no limit to human stupidity.)
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To: SeekAndFind

How bold do you have to be to think “I’m just going to muscle my giant ship through this blockage. They won’t do anything!” ?


6 posted on 04/19/2026 10:14:04 PM PDT by FrankRizzo890
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To: SeekAndFind

“… by blowing a hole in the engine room…”

Very accurate shot to do that without sinking the ship. I’d like to know more about that.


7 posted on 04/19/2026 10:35:46 PM PDT by VanShuyten ("...that all the donkeys were dead. I know nothing as to the fate of the less valuable animals.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Here:

https://youtu.be/Sx-C0pL2c4o?si=zNl2DjLf6Nowq_4S


8 posted on 04/19/2026 10:37:49 PM PDT by Varsity Flight ( "War by 🙏 the prophesies set before you." ) I Timothy 1:18. Nazarite warriors. 10.5.6.5 These Days)
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To: VanShuyten
Gotta love how US armed forces are able to pick em apart with tweezer like precision. We invented the term "Surgical Strike" and damm we're good at it!

https://grok.com/share/bGVnYWN5LWNvcHk_d8606efb-5444-4ecb-97ef-8e3a023ed6f0
9 posted on 04/19/2026 10:48:34 PM PDT by know.your.why
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To: SeekAndFind

I would really like to know what is in those containers!


10 posted on 04/20/2026 12:54:05 AM PDT by TonyM (Score Event)
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To: SeekAndFind
attempted to GET PASSED America’s Naval blockade

Townhall writers and editors...{snicker}

11 posted on 04/20/2026 1:44:18 AM PDT by Sirius Lee ("Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.)
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To: know.your.why

What do we do with a disabled 800’ ship?


12 posted on 04/20/2026 2:13:43 AM PDT by Does so (☞"For English, press 2"...Dem☭¢rats ™ ® © ≣ ½⅓⅔¼¾ ⅛⅜⅝⅞ ⅓ ⅕ ⅖ ⅗ ⅘ ⅙ ⅚)
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To: VanShuyten

I was thinking the same thing. sniper shot with a deck gun.

impressive.


13 posted on 04/20/2026 3:11:40 AM PDT by Blueflag (To not carry is to choose to be defenseless.)
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To: Blueflag
I was thinking the same thing. sniper shot with a deck gun.

Not your fathers's deck guns. Mark 45 5-inch naval gun with integration with AEGIS. That's gonna leave a mark.

14 posted on 04/20/2026 3:55:29 AM PDT by paulcissa (The left hates you and wants you dead.)
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To: FrankRizzo890

“ How bold do you have to be to think”

The arrogance and absolute conviction of both racial and religious superiority of true believer Persians is unmatched in the world.

As is their disdain for Jews. They are convinced Jews are stupid, inferior, and on the wrong side of God. This is followed by disdain for Americans and Christians.

The cognitive dissonance of the USA and Israel being more powerful, more successful, and happier — and routinely kicking their ass — is one of the reasons they act so stupidly and violently.

This is also why they are so quick to claim Jews use black magic. Nothing by else explains (to them) why they keep losing.

The IRGC has to stamp out something that proves their world view is 100% wrong. So they attack attack attack. And deny deny deny.

This arrogance is also why they have to be so thoroughly beaten down or killed before a deal can be struck — if a deal can be struck at all.

You have to break a world view that is culturally ingrained for millennia.


15 posted on 04/20/2026 4:31:31 AM PDT by TheThirdRuffian (Orange is the new brown)
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To: VanShuyten

There’s a video of the shoot. I believe it was five nonexplosive (but penetrating) rounds.

I was a red leg (artillery) in the Army and got to cross train with Navy several times. They have a lot of specialized toys we didn’t have (commonly) for this kind of thing.

Fun.

What was not fun was doing calculations (without the computer) when not only the target is moving but you are moving, too. Some of their old guys could solve it quick.


16 posted on 04/20/2026 4:35:48 AM PDT by TheThirdRuffian (Orange is the new brown)
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To: TonyM

Originated in China with stops in Malaysia
Sanctioned due to suspected history of smuggling military materiel and weapons


17 posted on 04/20/2026 4:40:46 AM PDT by silverleaf (“Inside Every Progressive Is A Totalitarian Screaming To Get Out” —David Horowitz)
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To: TheThirdRuffian

The Jew hatred by the Persian purists is curious as the Persians and Jews have been intermarrying for centuries, and it’s a part of their bloodline.


18 posted on 04/20/2026 4:45:19 AM PDT by pingman (Hi Ho Silver! AWAY!)
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To: SeekAndFind

I’d be interested to know what they used to hit the ship, from how far away and what the damage inside was.


19 posted on 04/20/2026 4:55:06 AM PDT by anton
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To: SeekAndFind

That’s what I’m talking about!!!! I wasn’t convinced we’d shoot and board blockade runners. Oh happy day!!!


20 posted on 04/20/2026 5:01:20 AM PDT by Mathews (I have faith Malachi is right!!! Any day now...)
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