President Donald Trump said the U.S. seized an oil tanker off Venezuela's coast.

That's where we're starting the seven from the Washington Post.

I'm Hannah Jewell. It's Thursday, December 11th.

Let's get you caught up with today's seven stories.

The crude oil tanker seized off the coast of Venezuela yesterday

is used to transport oil from Venezuela and Iran.

That's according to U.S. officials.

Here's how Trump described the seizure of the ship talking to reporters yesterday.

As you probably know, we've just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela, a large tanker, very large.

Largest one ever seized, actually.

Trump did not provide further details about the seizure, the tanker, or where it was headed.

But when he was asked what would happen with its oil, Trump said, we keep it, I guess.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said that the tanker had been sanctioned by the U.S., quote,

due to its involvement in an illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations.

But the legal authority under which the vessel and its contents were seized was not specified

by the administration. Venezuela's foreign minister called it blatant theft and an act of

international piracy. The seizure adds a new tactic to the Trump administration's months-long military campaign in waters

near Venezuela.

The buildup appears to buy a fleet of

planes for deportations. ICE has long relied on charter planes to carry out deportation flights. But under a plan revealed

by the post yesterday, that could change. The Department of Homeland Security recently signed a

contract worth nearly $140 million to purchase six Boeing 737 planes. The move will allow ICE, which is part of DHS, to operate its own fleet.

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