Unverified reports circulating Wednesday morning, citing Shiite-aligned sources, claim that two oil tankers were hit by naval mines and disabled. The location and timing of the alleged incident were not specified. The channel relaying the report expressed skepticism about its veracity.
Unverified reports circulating Wednesday morning, attributed to Shiite-aligned sources, claim that two oil tankers were disabled by naval mines. The channel relaying the report expressed skepticism about its accuracy, and no location or timeline was specified. The development comes hours after the United States confirmed overnight strikes on two Iranian government-owned oil tankers, a story The Zioneer first reported at 03:28 Jerusalem.
At 03:28 Jerusalem on Wednesday, The Zioneer reported, citing Axios correspondent Barak Ravid, that the United States had struck two Iranian government-owned oil tankers under a new policy of 'tanker for tanker' retaliation. A subsequent update, also at 03:28 Jerusalem, cited a US official telling i24NEWS that the strikes were carried out as 'eye for an eye' retaliation for Iranian attacks on two Saudi tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. Those reports were attributed to named American sources and marked a confirmed escalation of US-Iran maritime hostilities.
The region has seen a series of maritime incidents in recent weeks, as The Zioneer has reported. These include Iranian claims of striking tankers under US air escort (Fri Jul 31), IRGC claims of repelling tankers from the Strait of Hormuz (Thu Jul 30), and Houthi claims of attacking Saudi tankers (Jul 23) and enforcing a naval blockade (Jul 31). Multiple tankers have been reported hit in the Strait of Hormuz (Jul 7) and explosions reported near Saudi oil facilities (Jul 28).
The current claim remains unverified and lacks independent corroboration. No official confirmation from maritime security sources or any government has been received. The relaying channel itself cast doubt on the report, and the location and timing of the alleged mine strikes remain unknown.
3 developments
- StrongIRGC says two oil tankers disabled, engulfed in massive fire after unsafe Strait of Hormuz crossing
- DevelopingHouthis reportedly attacked two Saudi oil tankers in Gulf of Aden, Israel Hayom says
- DevelopingTwo supertankers attacked after 'violations' — report
- StrongIranian reports claim another oil tanker attacked off southern Iran
Source and signal
- Open-source intake