US Forces Board Second Venezuela-Linked Oil Tanker in Indian Ocean
WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 15, 2026 - U.S. military forces boarded a second oil tanker in the Indian Ocean suspected of violating sanctions by carrying Venezuelan oil, the Pentagon announced on Sunday. The boarding of the vessel, the Veronica III, followed the tracking of the tanker from the Caribbean Sea. This action is part of ongoing efforts to disrupt illicit oil trade connected to Venezuela.
According to The Guardian, the U.S. has been targeting a "shadow fleet" of tankers that Venezuela uses to smuggle crude oil into global supply chains. The U.S. had previously ordered a quarantine of sanctioned tankers in December, aiming to pressure Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Meanwhile, diplomatic tensions continue to simmer regarding Cuba. The Guardian reported that diplomats in Havana are preparing for potential U.S. actions aimed at destabilizing the Cuban government. Ambassadors from countries traditionally allied with the U.S. are expressing frustration with Washington's approach, while simultaneously drawing up contingency plans.
In other international news, the United States is not disputing European findings that Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny was poisoned, according to Al Jazeera. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking during a visit to Slovakia, called the European report "very troubling and very serious." The United Kingdom is signaling possible new sanctions against Moscow in response.
Also, thousands of Western nationals have joined the Israeli military amid its war in Gaza, Al Jazeera reported. More than 50,000 soldiers in the Israeli military hold at least one other citizenship, with a majority holding U.S. or European passports. This has raised questions about international legal accountability for foreign nationals implicated in alleged war crimes against Palestinians.
In sports news, India defeated Pakistan in a T20 World Cup match, securing their place in the Super Eight stage of the tournament. Ishan Kishan's performance helped India achieve a decisive victory.
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