2 Dead in Attack on Israeli-Operated Oil Tanker Near Oman

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July 30, 2021, 1 PM ET

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Two crewmen, a UK and a Romanian national, are reported dead in an attack on the Mercer Street, an Israeli-operated oil tanker that was sailing off the coast of Oman. The attack happened on Thursday night. There are unconfirmed reports that the ship was attacked by a drone. The tanker is operated by London-based Zodiac Maritime, which is owned by Eyal Ofer. It flies under a Liberian flag. The ship’s owner is Japanese. The ship was traveling from Dar es Salaam to Fujairah with no cargo on board, according to Zodiac Maritime. The attack happened northeast of the Omani island of Masirah.

Our statement on the situation involving the M/T Mercer Street: pic.twitter.com/V7L4fBmnEQ
— Zodiac Maritime (@Zodiac_Maritime) July 30, 2021

חברת Zodiac Maritime, בבעלות איש העסקים הישראלי אייל עופר, מעדכנת כי עלה חשד לנסיון פגיעה במכלית הדלק MERCER STREET במהלך שייט מטנזניה לאיחוד האמירויות. הספינה בבעלות יפנית, מנוהלת על ידי החברה בבעלות אייל עופר pic.twitter.com/9zLyHC2tFR
— איתי בלומנטל Itay Blumental (@ItayBlumental) July 30, 2021

It is suspected that the attack was done by the Iranians, as part of the ongoing shadow war between Israel and the Islamic regime, though the company is describing it as a piracy incident.