Two US warships are escorting an Israeli-operated oil tanker to a secure port after it was assaulted Thursday off the coast of Oman, killing two crew members, according to the US Navy.
Mercer Street, a Liberian-flagged, Japanese-owned tanker is managed by Zodiac Maritime.
According to a statement from the US Central Command, American naval explosives experts are aboard the tanker to assure the crew's safety. The US Navy is also “prepared to support an investigation into the attack,” which it believes was carried out by a drone, according to the command.
The command stated, “Initial indications clearly point to a UAV-style [drone] attack.”
Despite the fact that no one has claimed credit, Israel's foreign minister accused Iran of carrying out the drone strike on Friday. Iran has remained silent in the face of Israel's accusations.
The firm did not disclose any other information regarding the hack, just stating that it was being investigated.
The US and Israel have blamed Iran for attacks on multiple ships with Israeli ties in recent months.
In Syria, Israel has also been accused of bombing Iranian nuclear sites and military posts.
Tensions between Israel and Iran have lately risen as the US seeks to reinstate the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which Israel rejects. The initial agreement required Iran to considerably reduce its nuclear program in exchange for relief from the US and other world powers' economic sanctions.
Former President Donald Trump, however, pulled out of the agreement in 2018, claiming its apparent ineffectiveness, prompting Iran to rev up its nuclear program the following year.
According to Zodiac, the tanker was cruising across the northern Indian Ocean with no cargo on board when it was attacked off the coast of Oman. According to the company's latest statement, the ship is presently going to a "safe location with a US naval escort."
Eyal Ofer, an Israeli billionaire with a net worth of $11.4 billion, is the CEO of Zodiac Maritime. His maritime company owns and operates over 160 vessels.
