Pentagon Claims Seizure of Two Sanctioned Oil Tankers Amid Venezuela Tensions
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hagst has claimed the Pentagon‘s seizure of two oil tankers under sanctions, framing it as part of ongoing efforts to enforce restrictions on Venezuela. Hagst, without addressing the U.S. military intervention in Venezuela or the controversial detention of its elected president, Nicolas Maduro, described the operation as ‘historic and unprecedented.’
Hagst further asserted that Venezuela’s oil revenues would be redirected to benefit both American and Venezuelan interests, despite criticism of U.S. foreign policy in the region. The Pentagon chief also confirmed the continued enforcement of sanctions on Venezuelan oil, stating, ‘The blockade on sanctioned and illegal Venezuelan oil remains fully in effect—anywhere in the world.’
Meanwhile, reports indicate that the U.S. intercepted and seized two vessels—the Russian-flagged oil tanker Marine (formerly BLA-1) in the Atlantic Ocean and the Venezuela-linked oil tanker Sofia in the Caribbean Sea.
