POLITICS

U.S. forces seize tanker after Caribbean-to-Indian Ocean pursuit

PUBLISHED Feb 9, 2026, 11:53 AM ET

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Media Bias Meter

Sources: 10

Center 90%

Right 10%

Sources: 10

Washington — U.S. forces boarded and seized the tanker Aquila II in the Indian Ocean on Feb. 9 after tracking it from the Caribbean, the Pentagon said on Monday. The vessel, Panamanian-flagged and under U.S. sanctions, had departed Venezuelan waters in early January and reportedly carried about 700,000 barrels of heavy crude bound for China. Officials said the boarding occurred "without incident" after a prolonged pursuit; footage shows forces descending from a helicopter. Independent trackers reported the ship had used transponder shutdowns and was among vessels that left Venezuela following January events there. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

By Najma A. | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

December: U.S. announces quarantine/blockade targeting sanctioned Venezuelan-linked vessels.
Early January: Aquila II reportedly departs Venezuelan waters as part of a flotilla.
Mid-January: TankerTrackers and other trackers document multiple departures and transponder shutdowns.
Late January: U.S. pursues and apprehends a Russia-linked tanker after an offshore chase.
Feb. 9: Pentagon announces boarding and seizure of Aquila II in the Indian Ocean.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 10
Right Leaning:: 1
Left Leaning:: 0
Neutral:: 9
Distribution:: Left 0%, Center 90%, Right 10%

Who Benefited

The U.S. government strengthened enforcement credibility and signaled resolve to sanction proponents and allies, potentially disrupting sanctioned oil flows and bolstering deterrence against sanctioned shipping networks.

Who Impacted

Venezuela's state oil export capacity, vessel owners and operators, and commercial buyers faced immediate disruption, increased interception risk, and greater scrutiny on shipping practices.