{"id":2567863,"date":"2026-02-09T11:05:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T16:05:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-forces-seize-eighth-venezuela-linked-oil-tanker\/"},"modified":"2026-02-09T11:07:57","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T16:07:57","slug":"us-forces-seize-eighth-venezuela-linked-oil-tanker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-forces-seize-eighth-venezuela-linked-oil-tanker\/","title":{"rendered":"US forces seize eighth Venezuela-linked oil tanker"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fus-forces-seize-eighth-venezuela-linked-oil-tanker%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2567863&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>U.S. military forces seized the Aquila II, a Venezuela-linked oil tanker tracked from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/at-least-10-killed-over-a-dozen-injured-in-texas-van-crash\/\" title=\"At least 10 killed, over a dozen injured in Texas van crash\">reportedly carrying<\/a> about 700,000 barrels of crude bound for China. The operation, part of enforcing President Trump\u2019s sanctions and \u201cquarantine\u201d on Venezuelan oil, was described as the eighth such seizure of a Venezuela-linked vessel. Troops fast-roped onto the ship and corralled the crew; the Panamanian-flagged tanker had reportedly departed Venezuela in January. The action underscores the United States\u2019 effort to deny illicit oil shipments in the maritime domain amid venezuela\u2019s ongoing political turmoil.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">US forces seize Venezuela-linked oil tanker tracked from Caribbean Sea to Indian Ocean<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2499833\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-defense\/\">War Department<\/a> officials said Monday that U.S. military forces seized a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Venezuela\/\">Venezuela-linked<\/a> oil tanker that Indo-Pacific Command tracked down from the Caribbean Sea to the Indian Ocean.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Aquila II was operating in defiance of President Trump&rsquo;s established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean,&rdquo; the War Department <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DeptofWar\/status\/2020833550488965503?s=20\">posted on X<\/a>. &ldquo;It ran, and we followed. The Department of War tracked and hunted this vessel from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean. No other nation on planet Earth has the capability to enforce its will through any domain.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4450630\/rick-jackson-threatens-burt-jones-lock-maga-base-georgia-governor-race-campaign-launch\/\">Rick Jackson&#8217;s campaign launch threatens Burt Jones&#8217;s lock on MAGA base in Georgia governor race<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4450467\/social-security-100-million-my-social-security-account\/\">Social Security surpasses 100 million my Social Security account creations<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4450703\/hong-kong-pro-democracy-activist-jimmy-lai-sentenced-20-years\/\">Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The seizure was part of an effort to enforce sanctions put in place by <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Donald-Trump\/\">President Donald Trump<\/a> to quarantine vessels transporting oil to or from Venezuela, according to the War Department.<\/p>\n<p>Monday&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4426637\/us-seizes-seventh-oil-tanker-venezuela-blockade\/\">operation marks the eighth such action<\/a> to take hold of a Venezuela-linked <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/oil\/\">oil<\/a> vessel.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Department of War will <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >deny illicit actors<\/a> and their proxies the ability to defy American power in the global maritime domain,&rdquo; the War Department posted.<\/p>\n<p>The vessel was traveling under a Panamanian flag and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/us-boards-vessel-indian-ocean-without-incident-defense-secretary-says-2026-02-09\/\">reportedly departed from Venezuela<\/a> in January carrying roughly 700,000 barrels of crude oil bound for China.<\/p>\n<p>Under Trump&rsquo;s &ldquo;quarantine&rdquo; policy, all Venezuelan <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/oil\/\">oil exports<\/a> must be coordinated through &ldquo;proper and lawful&rdquo; channels to prevent the circumvention of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/in-wake-of-oil-import-ban-white-house-course-corrects-on-fossil-fuel-investments\/\" title=\"In Wake of Oil Import Ban, White House Course Corrects on Fossil Fuel Investments\">international economic sanctions<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>A video posted on X shows U.S. forces fast-roping onto the <em>Aquila II<\/em> as crew members are corralled to one side of the ship. Additional photos show a sniper observing the tanker from a helicopter.<\/p>\n<p>The tanker seizure comes amid heightened tensions surrounding Venezuela&rsquo;s fragile political landscape. Juan Pablo Guanipa, a politician and close ally of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4450580\/venezuela-opposition-figure-kidnapped\/\">was taken by armed men in Caracas<\/a> less than a day after his release from prison.<\/p>\n<p>While much of former dictator Nicolas Maduro&rsquo;s regime has crumbled since his capture by U.S.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lawmakers-demand-answers-after-joe-biden-bypasses-congress-to-bomb-middle-east\/\" title=\"Lawmakers demand answers after Joe Biden bypasses Congress to bomb Middle East\">forces earlier<\/a> this year, his former <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hunter-biden-defector-emails-pipeline-to-obama-admin-seen-as-currency\/\" title=\"Hunter Biden Defector Emails: &#039;Pipeline&#039; to Obama Admin Seen as &#039;Currency&#039;\">vice president<\/a>, Delcy Rodriguez, has taken power, though under immense restrictions.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4449540\/trump-administration-court-test-venezuelans-deported-el-salvador\/\"><strong>TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FACES COURT TEST OVER VENEZUELANS FLOWN TO EL SALVADOR<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Guanipa&rsquo;s allies have said they will hold Rodriguez accountable for any harm done to the politician.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We call on the international community for the immediate release of Juan Pablo Guanipa and for an immediate and unconditional end to the persecution of the opposition,&rdquo; Justice First <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Pr1meroJusticia\/status\/2020712045637673119\">posted<\/a> on X. &ldquo;Venezuela is determined to change and yearns for justice.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>US seizes Venezuela-linked tanker defying sanctions<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2567864,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/BizCover.020426.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[72905,73365,5036,72914,50813],"class_list":["post-2567863","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-maritime-security-2","tag-oil-tanker-2","tag-sanctions","tag-us-forces-2","tag-venezuela-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/BizCover.020426.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2567863","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2567863"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2567863\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2567867,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2567863\/revisions\/2567867"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2567864"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2567863"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2567863"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2567863"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}