Iran war: Gulf tanker attacked, 1 seaferer killed
Iran is stepping up attacks on shipping in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz. A Greek-owned tanker believed to have been struck with a missile, and Iran said two other vessels were on fire.
An oil tanker crew member lost his life after his vessel was hit by a projectile in the Gulf, according to its owner. The incident occurred on Thursday when the Greek-flagged Velos Sapphire, en route to Bahrain, was struck while empty. The vessel’s port side was severely damaged, resulting in a fire that quickly spread. Velos Tankers, the ship's operator, confirmed the explosion was likely caused by an unidentified projectile that struck the tanker's port quarter.
Meanwhile, Iran has reported that several tankers caught fire after colliding with mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Initially, Iranian media stated that five oil tankers and a tugboat were affected by the mine strikes. Subsequently, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran claimed that two additional "violating" tankers also struck mines and were ablaze.
One of these vessels entered the strait, while the other was located inside it, according to the IRGC. The statement attributed the situation to the alleged assistance from American military forces and aggressive actions from the enemy.
Written by urgent.news from Middle East Eye's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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