U.S. MILITARY BOARDS SANCTIONED OIL TANKER VERONICA III IN INDIAN OCEAN — 15 FEBRUARY 2026

U.S. military forces have boarded the Panama‑flagged oil tanker Veronica III in the Indian Ocean after tracking the vessel from the Caribbean Sea, the Pentagon has confirmed. The operation took place overnight on Sunday, February 15, 2026, as part of a broader U.S. effort to enforce sanctions against vessels believed to be transporting sanction‑evading oil, particularly linked to Iranian, Venezuelan and Russian interests. Tracking and InterceptionAccording to U.S. Defense Department statements, the Veronica III had attempted to avoid a quarantine on sanctioned tankers established by the U.S. after regional tensions and sanctions escalated. U.S. forces tracked the vessel from the Caribbean — where several similar interdictions have taken place — into the Indian Ocean before executing a “right‑of‑visit, maritime interdiction and boarding.” Operational DetailsVideo footage shared by the Pentagon shows U.S. troops coming aboard the vessel, which was boarded “without incident,” according to defense officials. The operation reflects Washington’s determination to crack down on what it describes as sanctioned maritime activity, even in international waters. The Veronica III is listed on U.S. sanctions lists — including by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control — for its involvement in transporting oil subject to international restrictions. Reports say the ship left Venezuela in early January carrying millions of barrels of crude and fuel, and has been monitored by maritime tracking groups for its connections to sanctioned shipments. Broader Enforcement CampaignThis operation is part of a sustained U.S. campaign targeting what officials call the “shadow fleet” of shipping vessels that attempt to evade sanctions by changing flags, turning off tracking systems, or rerouting long distances. U.S. forces recently carried out a similar boarding of another tanker, the Aquila II, in the same region. The Pentagon has not yet clarified whether the Veronica III will be formally seized or what legal actions will follow.Foreign policy analysts say such operations may heighten tensions with countries accused of benefiting from shadow‑shipping operations, and raise complex questions about maritime law in international waters.