Seafarer killed in Gulf as Iran says ships ablaze in Hormuz
Seafarer killed in Gulf as Iran says ships ablaze in Hormuz A seafarer was killed when a Greek-owned oil tanker was struck by a projectile in the Gulf, its owner said on Friday, as Iran said several tankers had caught fire after hitting mines in the Strait of Hormuz. The Marshall Islands-flagged Velos Sapphire was sailing empty to Bahrain when it was hit on Thursday, Athens-based Velos Tankers…
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.
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