British military assets were quietly drawn into an international maritime operation after RAF reconnaissance aircraft assisted US forces in tracking a sanctioned oil tanker crossing the North Atlantic, according to reports from The i.
The vessel, now known as Marinera, was monitored as it travelled between Iceland and the United Kingdom, with US aircraft reportedly launching from British air bases as part of a coordinated effort.
While details remain limited, the operation is understood to have been conducted with the awareness of the UK government, which is expected to comment publicly on the matter.
US European Command later confirmed the tanker’s seizure, citing violations of American sanctions. Formerly operating as Bella 1, the ship had long been associated with Iranian and Venezuelan oil networks and had previously evaded enforcement efforts.
US officials described the vessel as operating under false registration before ultimately reappearing under a Russian flag, highlighting the increasingly complex tactics used to circumvent international sanctions regimes.
The United States European Command (EUCOM) also reported that it had seized the tanker M/V Bella 1, sailing under a Russian flag and a changed name, in connection with the evasion of US sanctions.
Meanwhile, the US Southern Command announced the seizure of another tanker, M/T Sophia, which had been sanctioned for transporting Russian crude oil.
Photo: X/Nexta
Tomasz Modrzejewski
