Iraqi channels reported Wednesday evening that the American tanker 'New Andrews' was struck by an Iranian drone off the coast of Basra, southern Iraq. The report is unverified by Western or Israeli officials, with no immediate information on casualties or damage.
Iraqi channels reported Wednesday evening that the American tanker 'New Andrews' was struck by an Iranian drone near the port of Basra, southern Iraq. The report provides further detail on an incident that first emerged this afternoon, though the information remains unconfirmed by Western or Israeli officials. At 14:01 Jerusalem, initial reports surfaced of a tanker being hit in waters near Iraq, with an unverified claim that the vessel was American-owned. Within the same hour, Iraqi channels identified the tanker as the 'New Andrews' and attributed the attack to an Iranian drone — the same account now being repeated. A later bulletin at 15:38 Jerusalem characterized the claim as unverified. Wednesday evening's reports align with those earlier accounts but have not received independent validation.
The incident is the latest in a series of maritime confrontations between Iran and the United States in the Gulf. As The Zioneer reported on September 4, Iran launched missiles at a US base in Jordan; on September 5, a US aircraft struck an Iranian tanker near Kharg Island. The strike near Basra, hundreds of kilometers from the Strait of Hormuz, suggests an expansion of the theater of hostilities.
There is no confirmation of damage or casualties on the 'New Andrews', and no Western or Israeli official has authenticated the attack. The reports remain unverified.
3 developments
- DevelopingCargo ship reportedly struck by Iranian drone in Strait of Hormuz, official tells CNN
- DevelopingUS aircraft warned then struck Iranian tanker STARK I near Kharg Island, Iranian media report
- StrongReport: Iranian drone strikes oil facility in Kirkuk, northern Iraq
- StrongReport: Drone strikes airport in Iraq
Source and signal
- Open-source intake