The United States Department of Justice has released a 45-second video purportedly showing the U.S. military’s seizure of an oil tanker in proximity to Venezuela.
The released footage depicts military helicopters approaching the vessel and what appears to be U.S. troops boarding the tanker. The operation, spearheaded by the U.S. Coast Guard, was publicly announced by President Donald Trump on Wednesday.
Speaking with the BBC, retired U.S. Marine Corps Colonel Mark Cancian described the typical nature of such operations, noting that they “rarely” involve violence.
According to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who shared the video online, the tanker was allegedly utilized to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran.