The U.S. seized a 20-year-old oil tanker called The Skipper off the coast of Venezuela on Wednesday, three sources familiar with the matter told CBS News, after months of heightened tensions between the Trump administration and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The seizure was initially announced by President Trump during an unrelated White House event on Wednesday. Here's what we know about the boat and the operation:

Seizure involved special operations forces and 2 helicopters

The operation to seize the tanker began Wednesday morning, after the boat had just left port in Venezuela, according to a senior military official and a source familiar with the operation.

The mission was launched from the USS Gerald R. Ford , an aircraft carrier that has been in the area for weeks a

See Full Page