Russia has issued a stark warning to Western countries over efforts to disrupt its so-called shadow fleet, raising fears that the confrontation could spill into international shipping lanes.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened retaliation if Western nations move to seize Russian vessels or assets linked to the shadow fleet. Moscow says such actions would amount to piracy and has warned that any response would not necessarily take place in the same waters.

The escalating tensions are creating a major challenge for Britain’s Royal Navy, which is already monitoring Russian warships and shadow fleet vessels around UK waters. Reports cited in the segment suggest concerns over whether the Royal Navy has sufficient ships, weapons and resources to protect commercial shipping across vast maritime routes.

As Russia and the West clash over sanctioned oil shipments, the world’s major shipping lanes could become the next arena of confrontation.

Russia Threatens Western Ships | Britain’s Royal Navy Faces Major Firepower Crisis

US President Donald Trump on Friday (Sep 19)announced that US forces had destroyed another suspected drug trafficking vessel in international waters, killing three people on board. This is the third US strike in international waters in recent days. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the strike took place somewhere in the US Southern Command's area of operations, which spans Central and South America and the Caribbean. He did not specify the exact location, though past attacks in recent weeks have been carried out off the Venezuelan coast.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-we-are-hunting-you-trump-shares-shocking-video-of-fresh-strike-on-venezuelan-boat-reveals-3-narcoterrorists-killed-watch-1757992478375">'We are hunting you': Trump shares shocking video of fresh strike on Venezuelan boat; reveals 3 ‘narcoterrorists’ killed. Watch!</a><h2>Traffickers en route "to poison Americans"</h2>According to Trump, intelligence confirmed the “lethal kinetic strike” was carried out on his orders and claimed that the boat was transporting narcotics "along a known narcotrafficking passage en route to poison Americans." He shared a video clip showing a speedboat locked in crosshairs before being hit by ordnance and bursting into flames.

He claimed that the boat belonged to a “Designated Terrorist Organization,” but failed to mention which. “No U.S. Forces were harmed in this strike,” he said, adding, &nbsp;“STOP SELLING FENTANYL, NARCOTICS, AND ILLEGAL DRUGS IN AMERICA, AND COMMITTING VIOLENCE AND TERRORISM AGAINST AMERICANS!!!”Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/after-trump-blames-left-for-radicalising-charlie-kirk-killer-damning-study-on-how-domestic-terrorists-are-mostly-right-wing-vanishes-from-doj-website-1758086933683">DOJ quietly deletes study on how most domestic terrorists are right-wing after Trump blames left for Kirk's death</a><h2>How legal are the US strikes in international waters?</h2>Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth have earlier defended the initial strike, insisting the targets were known cartel operatives. However, questions over legality and evidence are mounting. Amid reports that the US violated international law, the Daily Mail, citing a source familiar with the operation, previously alleged that the US "did not even know if there were drugs on the boat," suggesting the strike was meant to "illicit a response from (President Nicolás) Maduro and provoke him" into retaliating, "show his true colours". The Trump administration has not yet provided proof that any of the vessels were carrying narcotics.However, Venezuela's leftist President Nicolas Maduro has accused the United States of pursuing regime change in his country under the guise of an operation to combat drug trafficking.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

For the third time this month, US President Donald Trump has announced that American forces have destroyed a suspected drug trafficking vessel in international waters, killing three people on board.

US President Donald Trump on Friday (Sep 19)announced that US forces had destroyed another suspected drug trafficking vessel in international waters, killing three people on board. This is the third US strike in international waters in recent days. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the strike took place somewhere in the US Southern Command's area of operations, which spans Central and South America and the Caribbean. He did not specify the exact location, though past attacks in recent weeks have been carried out off the Venezuelan coast. Also read | 'We are hunting you': Trump shares shocking video of fresh strike on Venezuelan boat; reveals 3 ‘narcoterrorists’ killed. Watch! Traffickers en route "to poison Americans" According to Trump, intelligence confirmed the “lethal kinetic strike” was carried out on his orders and claimed that the boat was transporting narcotics "along a known narcotrafficking passage en route to poison Americans." He shared a video clip showing a speedboat locked in crosshairs before being hit by ordnance and bursting into flames.

For the third time this month, US President Donald Trump has announced that American forces have destroyed a suspected drug trafficking vessel in international waters, killing three people on board.

Trump boasts US blasted another boat in international waters, says three drug traffickers ‘en route to poison Americans,’ killed. Watch

Saudi Arabia forced three Iranian boats to retreat from its waters on Thursday after firing warning shots, a spokesman for Saudi boarder guards said on Saturday.

The spokesman, quoted by Saudi news agency SPA, said the Iranian vessels refused to stop after they entered Saudi waters despite repeated warnings, which forced the Saudi authorities to fire the warning shots.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/how-big-power-rivalry-is-likely-to-unfold-in-the-gulf-region-308187">Also read|&nbsp;How big power rivalry is likely to unfold in the Gulf region</a>

Iranian state media quoted a local official in Bushehr province on the Gulf as saying the Saudi coastguard had opened fire on Iranian fishermen who had strayed into Saudi waters but that initial reports said no one was hurt.

The Iranian report said the fishermen had left on June 21 for a 10-day trip. It did not specify when the engagement with the Saudi coastguard occurred.

It was not immediately clear whether the two reports referred to the same incident.

Saudi Arabia forced three Iranian boats to retreat from its waters on Thursday after firing warning shots, a spokesman for Saudi boarder guards said on Saturday.

Saudi Arabia forced three Iranian boats to retreat from its waters on Thursday after firing warning shots, a spokesman for Saudi boarder guards said on Saturday. The spokesman, quoted by Saudi news agency SPA, said the Iranian vessels refused to stop after they entered Saudi waters despite repeated warnings, which forced the Saudi authorities to fire the warning shots. Also read| How big power rivalry is likely to unfold in the Gulf region Iranian state media quoted a local official in Bushehr province on the Gulf as saying the Saudi coastguard had opened fire on Iranian fishermen who had strayed into Saudi waters but that initial reports said no one was hurt. The Iranian report said the fishermen had left on June 21 for a 10-day trip. It did not specify when the engagement with the Saudi coastguard occurred. It was not immediately clear whether the two reports referred to the same incident.

Saudi Arabia says it forces three Iranian boats out of its waters

international-waters

International Waters, News on International Waters, stories on International Waters, articles on International Waters, International Waters stories at Wion, International Waters news, International Waters latest news

international waters

Russia Threatens Western Ships | Britain’s Royal Navy Faces Major Firepower Crisis

Trump says US blasted 3rd boat with drugs ‘en route to poison Americans’. Watch

Saudi Arabia says it forces three Iranian boats out of its waters