Iran releases clip of vessel seizure

strait raid

Masked commandos, fast boats, gunfire: How Tehran hijacked India-bound ship

Iran has released a high-impact video showing how its forces intercepted and seized two merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, including one that was headed to India, a day after the operation drew global attention.

The footage, circulated by Iranian state-linked channels, shows armed Islamic Revolu­tionary Guard Corps comm­a­ndos approaching the ships in fast attack boats. The visuals capture masked personnel climbing aboard using ladd­ers, securing the decks, and moving through key sections of the vessels with weapons drawn.

The two ships targeted in the operation were the Panama-flagged MSC Francesca and the Liberia-flagged Epaminondas. The latter was en route to Mundra Port in Gujarat from Dubai at the time of the interception. Both vessels were escorted towards Iranian waters.

The video shows troops conducting onboard searches, including inside the engine room. In the case of the Epaminondas, the ship’s bridge sustained damage after Iranian forces opened fire during the takeover. No injuries among crew members have been reported.

Iran has justified the action by alleging the ships were operating without the “required authorisation” and had “manipulated navigation systems,” posing a threat to maritime safety. The IRGC also reiterated that any activity disrupting “order” in the Strait of Hormuz would be treated as a red line.

US officials have suggested that such Iranian actions are being carried out by what is often referred to as a “mosquito fleet,” consisting of small, agile boats that can quickly surround and overwhelm larger commercial vessels.