Preliminary reports indicate that U.S. forces struck an Iranian oil tanker identified as the 'DERYA'. It is unclear whether the attack occurred before the Iranian retaliation was launched, according to The Zioneer Intelligence Desk.
The Zioneer Intelligence Desk can now identify the Iranian oil tanker struck by U.S. forces as the 'DERYA'. The latest reports, monitored at 00:58 Jerusalem early Wednesday, follow a fast-moving sequence of events Tuesday evening and into the night.
At 21:56 Tuesday, initial reports emerged that U.S. forces had struck Iranian oil tankers near Kharg Island and Jask, following an attack on a U.S. Navy warship. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) subsequently threatened retaliatory strikes on tankers anchored in Kuwait and Bahrain. By 00:40 Wednesday, The Zioneer summarized the situation in a bulletin, noting U.S. confirmation that the strikes were part of a broader economic campaign, with Iranian sources claiming three tankers had been hit. The identification of the 'DERYA' now adds a specific vessel to the tally.
As The Zioneer has previously reported, the U.S. has been conducting sustained operations against Iranian maritime assets and energy infrastructure, including strikes on tankers in recent weeks. The broader campaign, known as 'Operation Epic Fury,' has targeted Iranian military infrastructure, with Tehran responding with threats to U.S. and allied vessels in the Persian Gulf.
It remains unclear whether the strike on the 'DERYA' occurred before or after any Iranian retaliation was launched. U.S. officials have not commented on this specific tanker, and the reports remain unconfirmed by independent sources.
10 developments
- DevelopingUS strikes Iranian targets in retaliation for tanker attack, report says
- StrongAmerican source tells i24NEWS: Several Iranian tankers linked to IRGC were attacked
- DevelopingUS aircraft warned then struck Iranian tanker STARK I near Kharg Island, Iranian media report
- StrongIranian state TV reports IRGC struck oil tanker deviating from Iran-designated shipping lane
Source and signal
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