U.S. 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted verification boarding of M/T Wen Yao tanker on July 16, redirecting three commercial vessels and disabling one…
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[developing story — auto-updated]
U.S. Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted a verification boarding aboard the M/T Wen Yao tanker in the Gulf of Oman on July 16, as part of ongoing U.S. naval blockade operations against Iran, according to multiple OSINT sources citing U.S. Central Command announcements.
CENTCOM stated that American forces have redirected three commercial vessels attempting to breach the blockade, disabled one vessel that failed to comply, and boarded one additional vessel to ensure full compliance with the naval blockade targeting Iran. The operation marks what sources describe as the first publicly acknowledged operational employment of the 11th MEU in the Gulf of Oman since the war with Iran began in February.
The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit is embarked aboard the USS Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, comprising the USS Boxer (LHD-4), USS Portland (LPD-27), and USS Comstock (LSD-45). CENTCOM released imagery of the boarding operation. The Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters remain contested, with the U.S. characterizing its maritime operations as enforcement of a blockade against Iranian ports.
Sources: 1. RNIntel (ev_1cd265c257131cdf) 2. OSINTLive (ev_45eeb33f116b0ac8) 3. OSINTLive (ev_d0d85d47b1eab10d) 4. OSINTLive (ev_4fc7667a33fe0091) 5. DefenderDome (ev_03edf971646677f3) 6. WFWitness (ev_394f6b5801044649) 7. Alsaa_plus_EN (ev_c6e200b1dd4fa5c4) 8. OSINTLive (ev_43fdbf31cf790d1f) 9. OSINTLive via CENTCOM (raw:12656) 10.