Watch: US forces seize sanctioned oil tanker off Venezuela in airborne raid

US Attorney-General Pam Bondi on Wednesday released a 45-second footage of the operation of what she said was the US seizure of a crude-oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, offering the most detailed public look yet at an operation President Donald Trump announced only hours earlier.

The video, posted on Bondi's account on X, shows two military helicopters sweeping in low over the vessel as armed personnel in camouflage rappel onto the deck.

"This seizure was conducted safely and securely," Bondi said in her statement posted on X, describing the tanker as part of an "illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organisations." She added that the vessel had been under US sanctions for multiple years for transporting crude from Venezuela and Iran in violation of federal law.

VIDEO SHOWS TROOPS BOARDING VESSEL

According to Bondi, the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and the US Coast Guard executed the operation, with what she described as support from the Department of War. The clip shows what appear to be US troops boarding the tanker in a coordinated fast-rope insertion as it sits in open waters.

The Justice Department says the action is part of an ongoing push to disrupt attempts to move sanctioned Venezuelan and Iranian oil through shadow networks. Bondi said investigators continue to prevent the transport of sanctioned oil, noting that further enforcement actions are expected.

President Donald Trump also confirmed that the United States has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela as tensions mount with the government of President Nicols Maduro.

"We've just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela, a large tanker, very large, largest one ever seized, actually," Trump told reporters at the White House, later adding that "it was seized for a very good reason."

Trump did not offer additional details. When asked what would happen to the oil aboard the tanker, Trump said, "Well, we keep it, I guess."

VENEZUELA CONDEMNS SEIZURE AS BLATANT THEFT

In response, Venezuela, in a statement, accused the US of "blatant theft" and called the seizure "an act of international piracy".

The Venezuelan government said it would "defend its sovereignty, natural resources, and national dignity with absolute determination". It denounce the seizure of the tanker before international bodies.

The US has built up the largest military presence in the region in decades and launched a series of deadly strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.

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With inputs from agencies