The U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet has determined that an attack on an oil tanker called the Mercer Street, in the Arabian Sea on Thursday night, July 29, was carried out using a drone. “U.S. Navy explosives experts are aboard to ensure there is no additional danger to the crew, and are prepared to support an investigation into the attack,” the Fifth Fleet said, reported The Associated Press, “Initial indications clearly point to a (drone)-style attack.”
London-based Zodiac Maritime, part of Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Group, said the attack killed two crew members, one from the United Kingdom and the other from Romania. It said it believed no other crew members onboard were harmed. These are the first known fatalities in a series of attacks on shipping in the region dating back to 2019. Zodiac Maritime manages the Mercer Street which is reported to be Liberian-flagged and Japanese-owned.
The Israelis, naturally, are blaming Iran, though no evidence of Iranian responsibility has yet been presented. A senior Israeli government source told the Times of Israel on condition of anonymity July 30, Friday evening, that “Iran is sowing violence and destruction in every corner of the region. They were so eager to attack an Israeli target that they’ve embroiled themselves and incriminated themselves in the killing of foreign citizens.”
