"The Bella 1 evaded capture in the Caribbean Sea last month, but has been spotted in the Atlantic, around 500 miles from Ireland's west coast. American military aircraft flying from RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk have been monitoring the vessel in recent days, according to flight tracking data. RAF Typhoon fighter jets, accompanied by KC2 aerial refuelling tankers, have also been tracked flying towards the last known location of the tanker."
"Plans for its apparent seizure come amid a series of American military transporter planes landing at RAF Fairford carrying helicopters known to be used in clandestine special forces operations. Two officials, cited in a report by CBS News, said US forces would rather seize the vessel than sink it. Any operation could replicate one carried out last month when US Marines, special forces units and the Coast Guard captured the Skipper, an oil tanker, after it left a port in Venezuela, they added."
Bella 1 escaped capture in the Caribbean and has since been sighted in the Atlantic about 500 miles off Ireland's west coast. American military aircraft from RAF Mildenhall and tracked RAF Typhoon fighters with KC2 refuelling tankers have monitored and moved toward the vessel's last known location. The US Coast Guard previously tried to intercept the tanker as it sailed toward Venezuela to load oil. The crew painted a Russian flag and re-registered the ship as the Marinera. US officials prefer seizing rather than sinking the tanker and may attempt an operation similar to the recent Skipper capture, supported by special forces helicopters arriving in Britain.
Read at Irish Independent
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