Two tankers attacked in Gulf of Oman
A 'kamikaze drone' is a 'loitering munition' in US English apparently.
Article on the BBC News website.
Tanker attack: Tensions rise as Iran and Israel trade accusations
Israel's PM has said he knows "with certainty" Iran was involved in a deadly tanker attack off Oman, accusations Tehran called "baseless".
Two crew members died when the MV Mercer Street, operated by an Israeli-owned firm, was attacked on Thursday.
Israeli PM Naftali Bennett warned "we know how to send a message to Iran", while Tehran said it would "not hesitate to defend its interests".
There have been several recent attacks on Israeli- and Iranian-operated ships.
The attacks since March have been seen as tit-for-tat incidents.
The BBC's security correspondent, Frank Gardner, says this undeclared shadow war - and its counter-denials - had been heating up, but the human casualties on the Mercer Street marked a significant escalation.
A British security guard and a Romanian crew member died on the Zodiac Maritime-operated vessel, with the US pointing to a drone attack.
Mr Bennett told a cabinet meeting on Sunday intelligence evidence existed that Iran had carried out the attack.
He called on the international community to make it clear that Iran had "made a serious mistake".
Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Saeed Khatibzadeh, told reporters Israel "must stop such baseless accusations".
He said of the allegations: "Whoever sows the wind reaps the whirlwind."
However, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab also blamed Iran.
"We believe this attack was deliberate, targeted, and a clear violation of international law by Iran," Mr Raab said in a statement.
"UK assessments have concluded that it is highly likely that Iran attacked the MV Mercer Street in international waters off Oman on 29 July using one or more Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)."
Two crew members died when the MV Mercer Street, operated by an Israeli-owned firm, was attacked on Thursday.
Israeli PM Naftali Bennett warned "we know how to send a message to Iran", while Tehran said it would "not hesitate to defend its interests".
There have been several recent attacks on Israeli- and Iranian-operated ships.
The attacks since March have been seen as tit-for-tat incidents.
The BBC's security correspondent, Frank Gardner, says this undeclared shadow war - and its counter-denials - had been heating up, but the human casualties on the Mercer Street marked a significant escalation.
A British security guard and a Romanian crew member died on the Zodiac Maritime-operated vessel, with the US pointing to a drone attack.
Mr Bennett told a cabinet meeting on Sunday intelligence evidence existed that Iran had carried out the attack.
He called on the international community to make it clear that Iran had "made a serious mistake".
Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Saeed Khatibzadeh, told reporters Israel "must stop such baseless accusations".
He said of the allegations: "Whoever sows the wind reaps the whirlwind."
However, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab also blamed Iran.
"We believe this attack was deliberate, targeted, and a clear violation of international law by Iran," Mr Raab said in a statement.
"UK assessments have concluded that it is highly likely that Iran attacked the MV Mercer Street in international waters off Oman on 29 July using one or more Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)."
Article on the BBC News website.
Tanker attack: Tensions rise as Iran and Israel trade accusations
It does seem rather obvious that there is a desire to choke off the Iran/China oil trade, this 'incident' seems tailor made to make that politically passable.
I'd consequently expect China to start using Chinese flagged ships next, despite the economic hit, because they really need reliable supply.
I do not think Israel would want to get into China's bad books.
How do you get a mine into the crew’s quarters or the bridge?
https://japantoday.com/category/worl...-that-killed-2
Quote:
The drone attack blasted a hole through the top of the oil tanker’s bridge, where the captain and crew command the vessel, a U.S. official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as an investigation into the attack still was ongoing.
https://japantoday.com/category/worl...-that-killed-2
Quote:
The drone attack blasted a hole through the top of the oil tanker’s bridge, where the captain and crew command the vessel, a U.S. official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as an investigation into the attack still was ongoing.
Last edited by jolihokistix; 2nd Aug 2021 at 02:30.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
Things are escalating….
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...iracy-incident
Iranian-backed forces suspected of tanker hijacking off UAE coast
Iranian-backed forces are suspected of being behind the seizure of a tanker off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, after Britain’s maritime trade agency reported a “potential hijack” in the area on Tuesday by eight to nine armed individuals.
Maritime security sources identified the vessel as the Panama-flagged asphalt tanker that was reportedly intercepted in an area in the Arabian Sea leading to the strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world’s seaborne oil exports flow.
Maritime security analysts at Dryad Global and Aurora Intelligence later named the endangered ship as the Asphalt Princess travelling to Sohar, a port on Oman’s northern coast.In a statement, the UK Foreign Office said it was “urgently investigating an incident on a vessel off the UAE coast”. A spokesperson for the US state department said it was “too early to offer a judgment” on the incident.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards denied that the country’s forces or allies were involved, saying the incident was a pretext for “hostile action” against Tehran, Iranian state television said on its website.
“According to information from security sources, Iran’s armed forces and all branches of the Islamic Resistance in the Middle East have nothing to do with the incident in the Gulf of Oman,” the Guards said in a statement carried by the website.
The statement said the incident was an attempt by western countries and Israel “to prepare the public opinion of the international community for hostile action against the honourable nation of Iran.”…..
First intimations of an incident emerged on Tuesday afternoon when a warning notice was issued by the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO),which notified ships that “an incident is currently under way” – later upgraded to a “potential hijacking”.
An Oman Royal Air Force Airbus C-295MPA, a maritime patrol aircraft, was flying over the area, according to data from Flightradar24.com.
The initial warning emerged amid contradictory claims in different local media that up to four ships had reported issues. Four oil tankers announced around the same time via their automatic identification system trackers that they were “not under command”, according to MarineTraffic.com.
It was not clear, however, of the significance of those alerts or even if they were related, with one of the ships later moving again.
The US military’s Middle East-based Fifth Fleet and the British defence ministry did not immediately return calls for comment. The Emirati government did not immediately acknowledge the incident.…..
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...iracy-incident
Iranian-backed forces suspected of tanker hijacking off UAE coast
Iranian-backed forces are suspected of being behind the seizure of a tanker off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, after Britain’s maritime trade agency reported a “potential hijack” in the area on Tuesday by eight to nine armed individuals.
Maritime security sources identified the vessel as the Panama-flagged asphalt tanker that was reportedly intercepted in an area in the Arabian Sea leading to the strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world’s seaborne oil exports flow.
Maritime security analysts at Dryad Global and Aurora Intelligence later named the endangered ship as the Asphalt Princess travelling to Sohar, a port on Oman’s northern coast.In a statement, the UK Foreign Office said it was “urgently investigating an incident on a vessel off the UAE coast”. A spokesperson for the US state department said it was “too early to offer a judgment” on the incident.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards denied that the country’s forces or allies were involved, saying the incident was a pretext for “hostile action” against Tehran, Iranian state television said on its website.
“According to information from security sources, Iran’s armed forces and all branches of the Islamic Resistance in the Middle East have nothing to do with the incident in the Gulf of Oman,” the Guards said in a statement carried by the website.
The statement said the incident was an attempt by western countries and Israel “to prepare the public opinion of the international community for hostile action against the honourable nation of Iran.”…..
First intimations of an incident emerged on Tuesday afternoon when a warning notice was issued by the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO),which notified ships that “an incident is currently under way” – later upgraded to a “potential hijacking”.
An Oman Royal Air Force Airbus C-295MPA, a maritime patrol aircraft, was flying over the area, according to data from Flightradar24.com.
The initial warning emerged amid contradictory claims in different local media that up to four ships had reported issues. Four oil tankers announced around the same time via their automatic identification system trackers that they were “not under command”, according to MarineTraffic.com.
It was not clear, however, of the significance of those alerts or even if they were related, with one of the ships later moving again.
The US military’s Middle East-based Fifth Fleet and the British defence ministry did not immediately return calls for comment. The Emirati government did not immediately acknowledge the incident.…..
Sorry to disappoint the PPRuNe warmongers (actually, I'm not at all):
For full story, see https://news.sky.com/story/potential...-over-12372173
'Potential hijack' of oil tanker by suspected Iran-backed army is over
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
Not sure the hijckers either leaving, or being driven off, ends the overall situation - or the possibility of relation. Ship was turned to head towards Iran before the incident was closed, by whatever means…..
I await with interest any reports which come out as to what happened last night in the Straits of Hormuz…
https://www.euronews.com/2021/08/04/...ish-navy-group
“Late on Tuesday, as the incident was underway, six oil tankers off the coast of Fujairah had announced around the same time via their Automatic Identification System trackers that they were “not under command,” according to MarineTraffic.com. That typically means a vessel has lost power and can no longer steer.”…..
I await with interest any reports which come out as to what happened last night in the Straits of Hormuz…
https://www.euronews.com/2021/08/04/...ish-navy-group
“Late on Tuesday, as the incident was underway, six oil tankers off the coast of Fujairah had announced around the same time via their Automatic Identification System trackers that they were “not under command,” according to MarineTraffic.com. That typically means a vessel has lost power and can no longer steer.”…..
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It's not particularly rare for vessels to display N.U.C both visual and by A.I.S. when awaiting voyage orders or load/discharge dates. They shouldn't as technically they are not NUC. Perhaps that's the reason for some of them.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
https://www.timesofisrael.com/crew-o...aging-engines/
Crew of tanker off UAE coast said to thwart Iran hijacking by sabotaging engines
The crew of a Panama-flagged asphalt tanker off the coast of Oman reportedly managed to thwart an attempt by Iranian gunmen to take control of their ship and divert it to the Islamic Republic.
Roughly half a dozen Iranian operatives stormed the Asphalt Princess, but the crew onboard quickly sprung to action and sabotaged the ship’s engines so that it could not move any further, UK officials told British daily The Times on Wednesday.
The gunmen fled the ship once US and Omani warships arrived at the scene, The Times said, adding that none of the crew were injured in the hijacking attempt…..
Crew of tanker off UAE coast said to thwart Iran hijacking by sabotaging engines
The crew of a Panama-flagged asphalt tanker off the coast of Oman reportedly managed to thwart an attempt by Iranian gunmen to take control of their ship and divert it to the Islamic Republic.
Roughly half a dozen Iranian operatives stormed the Asphalt Princess, but the crew onboard quickly sprung to action and sabotaged the ship’s engines so that it could not move any further, UK officials told British daily The Times on Wednesday.
The gunmen fled the ship once US and Omani warships arrived at the scene, The Times said, adding that none of the crew were injured in the hijacking attempt…..
https://www.timesofisrael.com/crew-o...aging-engines/
Crew of tanker off UAE coast said to thwart Iran hijacking by sabotaging engines
The crew of a Panama-flagged asphalt tanker off the coast of Oman reportedly managed to thwart an attempt by Iranian gunmen to take control of their ship and divert it to the Islamic Republic.
Roughly half a dozen Iranian operatives stormed the Asphalt Princess, but the crew onboard quickly sprung to action and sabotaged the ship’s engines so that it could not move any further, UK officials told British daily The Times on Wednesday.
Crew of tanker off UAE coast said to thwart Iran hijacking by sabotaging engines
The crew of a Panama-flagged asphalt tanker off the coast of Oman reportedly managed to thwart an attempt by Iranian gunmen to take control of their ship and divert it to the Islamic Republic.
Roughly half a dozen Iranian operatives stormed the Asphalt Princess, but the crew onboard quickly sprung to action and sabotaged the ship’s engines so that it could not move any further, UK officials told British daily The Times on Wednesday.
