A spokesman for Iraq’s army says one crew member was killed and 38 others were rescued after the attack on two foreign oil tankers in its port of al-Faw.
“Two oil tankers were subjected to a cowardly act of sabotage,” Lieutenant General Saad Maan said, according to the Iraq News Agency (INA). He said “the attack took place within Iraqi territorial waters” and said the assault “constitutes a violation of Iraqi sovereignty”.
“Iraq reserves the right to take legal action,” he added.
The head of Iraq’s General Company for Ports, Farhan al-Fartousi, has told the Iraqi News Agency that all oil terminal operations have been completely suspended, while commercial ports continue to function normally.
The announcement follows attacks by explosive-laden boats on two crude oil tankers that had loaded at Umm Qasr port in Basra Province.
Crude oil prices are continuing to rally despite the International Energy Agency’s announcement of the largest-ever release of strategic reserves.
Futures for Brent crude, the international benchmark, surged nearly 20 percent as plans for a historic release of 400 million barrels failed to offset fears of prolonged disruption to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
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Nearly 40 people were evacuated from two tankers that had been attacked off the Iraqi coast, Saad Maan, head of Iraq's Security Media Cell, said.
ReplyDelete"Thirty-eight crewmembers were evacuated. One of them died," he said, as quoted by the INA agency.
He said that the tankers had been attacked in Iraq’s territorial waters and condemned this attack as a violation of the country’s sovereignty. Baghdad "reserves the right to all appropriate legal actions," he stressed.
Oil terminals at Iraqi ports have suspended operations following attacks on tankers, Farhan al-Fartousi, director general of the state-owned General Company for Ports of Iraq (GCPI), said.
ReplyDelete"The operation of oil ports has been suspended, commercial ports continue operations," he said as quoted by the INA agency.
Oil prices continued to rise on Thursday despite major countries agreeing to release a record amount of oil from their emergency reserves as they try to curb the impact of the Iran war.
ReplyDeleteBrent crude rose by almost 9% to top $100 ($74.79) a barrel in Asia trading even after all 32 members of the International Energy Agency's (IEA) said they will release 400 million barrels in response to supply concerns.
On Wednesday, Iran warned that oil could reach $200 a barrel as its attacks on ships intensify in the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for energy shipments.
An Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) spokesperson said any vessel linked to the US, Israel or their allies will be targeted.
Ιρακινοί πυροσβέστες και λιμενικές αρχές κατάφεραν να θέσουν υπό έλεγχο και να σβήσουν τη φωτιά που ξέσπασε σε δύο δεξαμενόπλοια ανοικτά της Βασόρας, τα οποία είχαν δεχθεί επίθεση νωρίτερα το βράδυ.
ReplyDeleteΤα πλοία έχουν αναγνωριστεί ως το M/T SAFESEA VISHNU, με σημαία Νήσων Μάρσαλ, και το M/T ZEFYROS, με σημαία Μάλτας. Σύμφωνα με τις πρώτες πληροφορίες, τα δεξαμενόπλοια επλήγησαν πιθανόν από μη επανδρωμένο επιφανειακό σκάφος (drone boat) που αποδίδεται στο Ιράν.