Missile strike on Greek-managed tanker MT Velos Sapphire in Persian Gulf kills one seafarer
A suspected missile strike on the Marshall Islands–flagged oil tanker MT Velos Sapphire in the Persian Gulf has killed one seafarer, Greek management firm Velos Tankers said on Friday, as Iran intensifies attacks on shipping in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. The company said the vessel was sailing toward Bahrain when it was attacked. An explosion believed to have been caused by a missile left one crew member fatally injured on board after that person had first been reported missing; the blast also started a fire, which the crew extinguished with no other injuries reported. Bahrain’s Khalifa Bin Salman Port took the ship in, and an investigation is to assess hull damage.
The incident is described as the latest in a string of Iranian attacks on ships in the Persian Gulf. The Wall Street Journal, citing regional officials, security firms and analysts, reported that Tehran is using a range of methods to obstruct oil leaving the Strait of Hormuz, including bomb-laden undersea drones, rocket-propelled grenades and crews attaching limpet mines. The UK Maritime Trade Operations Center said October recorded the highest monthly number of attacks in the strait since the war began, with more than 35 incidents, and that at least five vessels have been attacked so far in November. That rise comes as shipping through Hormuz shows signs of recovery: US Central Command said last month it had helped Gulf countries export 1.5 billion barrels of oil via the strait since the summer.
Iranian media said on Thursday that five oil tankers and a tugboat caught fire after hitting mines in the Strait of Hormuz. On Friday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said two more oil tankers were on fire in the strait, according to state media. Iranian media also said Friday that Iranian air defenses had destroyed a US MQ-1 drone over Qeshm Island; the United States did not confirm that. The developments follow US strikes on Qeshm Island on Tuesday, which Iranian state media said produced five explosions in rapid succession. A statement attributed to Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned that the Middle East war would widen if the US resumes its attacks, and Khamenei has rejected the idea that Washington will change course after midterm elections dealt a blow to President Donald Trump.
Continue in the app — vote & join in ➔