US forces turn 23 vessels back to Iran, enforcing blockade, military says
CENTCOM also confirmed that the combat ship USS Canberra is currently patrolling the Arabian Sea to support enforcement operations.
The United States has turned back at least 23 vessels near the Strait of Hormuz as it continues to enforce a naval blockade on Iranian ports and coastal areas, the military said on Saturday (18 April).
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a post on X that American forces have been actively implementing the blockade since 13 April, ordering ships attempting to enter or exit Iranian waters to reverse course, reports BBC and Al Jazeera.
According to CENTCOM, all 23 vessels complied with the orders and turned back towards Iran.
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The command said the blockade targets maritime traffic linked to Iranian ports and coastal zones, as part of ongoing tensions in the region.
CENTCOM also confirmed that the combat ship USS Canberra is currently patrolling the Arabian Sea to support enforcement operations.
The US military reiterated that it is continuing to enforce what it described as a "maritime blockade against ships entering or exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas."
In response, Iran has said it has again closed the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns over disruptions to one of the world's most critical energy shipping routes.
