Several US media outlets reported on the 21st that the US Coast Guard was still intercepting an oil tanker named "Bella 1" in international waters near Venezuela. This marks the third oil tanker interception operation carried out by the US to pressure Venezuela in less than two weeks.

According to a US official who spoke to a cable news network, when US Coast Guard personnel attempted to board and inspect the vessel, the oil tanker continued sailing, prompting US forces to initiate a pursuit. As the operation is ongoing, the official chose to remain anonymous.

Earlier, Bloomberg cited sources familiar with the matter, stating that the oil tanker flying the flag of Panama was intercepted and boarded by US authorities while en route to load cargo in Venezuela.

According to US media reports, this oil tanker was sanctioned by the US last year for transporting Iranian oil. US officials stated that it was "flying a false flag and had been ordered to be detained by a court."

This is the second consecutive day that the US has intercepted an oil tanker related to Venezuela at sea. On the 20th, the US Coast Guard intercepted and boarded a super oil tanker named "Century," which, although not on the US sanctions list, was stated by the White House to be carrying crude oil from Venezuela's sanctioned oil company.

Previously, on the 10th, the US forcibly detained an oil tanker named "Captain" in the waters near Venezuela and announced the seizure of its oil cargo. President Trump ordered a comprehensive blockade on all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela on the 16th.

According to data from the "TankerTrackers" website, an oil transportation monitoring organization, there are currently dozens of oil tankers on the US sanctions list anchored in waters near Venezuela.

Oil exports are a crucial economic pillar for Venezuela. The Venezuelan government has repeatedly accused the US of attempting regime change in Venezuela and military expansion in Latin America, condemning the US's interception of oil tankers as "pirate behavior."

In recent months, citing the fight against "drug terrorism," the US has deployed a significant amount of maritime and aerial forces in the Caribbean Sea near Venezuela, sinking approximately 30 vessels allegedly involved in drug trafficking, resulting in over a hundred deaths. The US's interception of oil tankers has further escalated tensions between the US and Venezuela.