US military launches major action in Venezuela, blockades coastline; seizes another oil tanker

News Topical, Digital Desk : The ongoing tension between the United States and Venezuela shows no signs of abating. Trump is continuously increasing pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. US troops are continuously conducting operations near the Venezuelan coast. For the second time in less than two weeks, US troops have seized an oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast. In fact, amid increasing pressure from Trump on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, US troops on Saturday seized another tanker near the Venezuelan coast.

Home Minister confirmed

US Secretary of the Interior Kristi Noem confirmed the action on the social media platform X. She wrote in a post on X that the United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of contraband oil that is used to fund narco-terrorism in the region. The action was carried out by the US Coast Guard with Pentagon support and is part of a broader effort to disrupt Venezuela's oil exports and pressure Maduro to step down.

Three officials, speaking to Al Jazeera sources on condition of anonymity, did not disclose the location of the operation but said the Coast Guard was leading the operation. Two other officials also confirmed the operation. One official said the operation was a consensual boarding, in which the tanker voluntarily stopped and allowed US forces to board.

According to Al Jazeera, an embargo has been in effect since the US military seized a banned oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast last week, forcing laden ships carrying millions of barrels of oil to remain in Venezuelan waters rather than risk seizure.

Venezuela's crude oil exports have declined sharply since the first seizure. While many ships carrying oil from Venezuela are subject to sanctions, others carrying Venezuelan oil and crude oil from Iran and Russia are exempt. 

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