Israeli Tanker Attacked Near Oman, 2 Killed

In the latest attack on an Israeli-managed vessel operating in the Middle East region, two seafarers, one Romanian and one British, were reported slain. The attack is the latest in a series of attacks on vessels in the region in a purported shadow war between Iran and Israel, but it is the first to result in casualties, according to UK sources. 

Zodiac Maritime, situated in the United Kingdom, initially published a brief statement saying. “We can confirm that there has been a suspected piracy incident onboard the product tanker M/T Mercer Street,” but did not elaborate or go into details any further. 

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also issued notifications about the attack, but said they believe it was not piracy.

At the time of the attack, the tanker was cruising off the coast of Oman in the northern Indian Ocean. 

According to the Jerusalem Post, unnamed Israeli sources said on Israeli television Channel 13 that the attack was carried out by an unmanned Iranian drone. 

According to Israeli media reports, the Romanian was the tanker’s captain, while the British citizen was a security guard on board.