US forces intercept sanctioned vessel in Indian ocean

United States Indo-Pacific Command has announced that U.S. forces conducted a maritime interdiction operation in the Indian Ocean, boarding a sanctioned vessel as part of ongoing efforts to enforce international sanctions and disrupt illicit shipping networks.

Overnight, U.S. forces carried out a maritime interdiction and conducted a right-of-visit boarding of the sanctioned stateless vessel MT DAVINA in the Indian Ocean, within the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) area of responsibility, Caliber.Az reports. 

Overnight, U.S. forces carried out a maritime interdiction and right-of-visit boarding of the sanctioned stateless vessel MT DAVINA located in the Indian Ocean within the INDOPACOM area of responsibility.

We will continue global maritime enforcement to disrupt illicit networks… pic.twitter.com/7sNPNx0doN

— U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (@INDOPACOM) June 5, 2026

In a statement posted on X, the United States Indo-Pacific Command said the operation was part of broader global maritime enforcement activities aimed at disrupting illicit networks and intercepting vessels allegedly providing material support to Iran.

“We will continue global maritime enforcement to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels providing material support to Iran, wherever they operate,” the command said.

It added that international waters “cannot be used as a shield by sanctioned actors,” stressing that U.S. forces will continue efforts to deny “illicit actors and their vessels freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain.”

By Sabina Mammadli