by Democrat reporter
Six ships have been attacked in the Gulf in less than 48 hours, bringing the total of vessels attacked since the start of the war to 18, according to reports by UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and the maritime intelligence company Vanguard.
It comes as Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei vowed to keep blocking the Strait of Hormuz in his first public statement.
Verified footage showed two tankers on fire in Iraqi waters at the north of the Gulf late on Wednesday and UKMTO reported the ships had been “struck by an unknown projectile”.
Safesea Vishnu, a US-owned vessel heading to India, was hit by an “unmanned speed boat carrying explosives” which “rammed into it, resulting in a major fire onboard”, Indian authorities said.
Video filmed from a small boat – and authenticated by BBC Verify – shows a large explosion on the Safesea Vishnu before the boat speeds away and those on board can be heard celebrating.
The head of the General Company for Iraqi ports said it rescued 38 crew members from the attacked ship and that one person has died, according to the Iraqi News Agency.
There were no reported injuries on the second vessel, the Maltese-flagged Zefyros.
Three crew members are still missing and believed to be trapped in the engine room of another vessel, the Thai-flagged Mayuree Naree, that was hit while transiting through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday morning, the ship’s owner told BBC Verify.
“In theory, Iran can keep threatening shipping indefinitely,” said Nick Brown from the defence intelligence company Janes.
“Iranian forces are well practised in decoy, camouflage and subterfuge tactics, and many of their smaller weapons can be disguised in commercial vehicles, hidden in buildings and out of sight along Iran’s long coastline,” he added.
“Small craft, robot craft, small submarines, shore based missiles, even mobile artillery – all of which Iran has – could attack ships as they sail past,” said Professor Michael Clarke from King’s College London.
The latest data from the ship tracking firm MarineTraffic shows that just six vessels have passed through the strait since Monday.
They have been turning off their onboard trackers, as Iran continues to target vessels. Signal jamming is also causing many ships to transmit misleading location data.
The locations of the strikes on vessels reported by UKMTO and Vanguard show the attacks have spanned the length of the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, but most have been concentrated near the Strait of Hormuz.
About 20% of the world’s oil – around 20 million barrels per day – usually transits through this narrow corridor between Iran in the north and Oman and the United Arab Emirates in the south.
It is also a key trading route for other commodities such as helium, the chemical sulphate, and urea, which is used to produce fertiliser.
“No ship wants to pass through there and no insurer wants to insure those ships that are passing through there. This is the scenario that we’ve all been predicting for a long time – the closing of the strait – which is a nightmare,” said Neil Quilliam from the Chatham House think-tank.
Ten of the ships reported by UKMTO and Vanguard as having been attacked since 28 February are tankers, according to MarineTraffic data.
Iran has said it would “not allow even a single litre of oil” heading for the US, Israel and their partners to pass through the strait.
In addition to strikes on oil tankers, we have also verified 10 strikes on oil facilities and depots since the conflict began on 28 February, spanning Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar.
Live updates as Israel and the US continue their strikes on Iran
- Iranian regime releases first statement from new supreme leader who says the closure of the Strait of Hormuz should be continued and US bases will be attacked
- US was responsible for missile strike on elementary school, investigation finds
- More than three million displaced since Iran conflict began, says UN agency
- Oil markets are now facing the “largest supply disruption in history” as the war in Iran continues to block tankers from producing and shipping millions of barrels of crude each day, the world energy watchdog has warned.
Ships must coordinate with Iran’s navy to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, says Iran’s foreign ministry
“The security of the Strait of Hormuz is of vital importance to Iran, because the country’s security is tied to the security of the region. With the longest coastlines on the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, Iran has always borne costs to protect this strategic waterway,” said Esmaeil Baghaei, the foreign ministry spokesperson.
“The insecurity created in the region by the United States and the Zionist regime can affect the movement of ships. However, Iran does not want this strait to become insecure, and ships must coordinate with the Iranian navy when passing through so that maritime security is maintained,” Baghaei added.
Trump says war on Iran is ‘moving along very rapidly’ and Tehran ‘paying a big price’
President Donald Trump was speaking at a White House event with his wife, Melania, to mark Women’s History Month.
He said, the situation with Iran is “moving along very rapidly.”
“It’s doing very well. Our military is unsurpassed. There’s never been anything like it, nobody’s ever seen anything like it,” he said.
“And we’re doing what has to be done, should have been done during a 47 year period. Could have been done by a lot of different people. They chose not to do it, but they really are a a nation of terror and hate. And they’re paying a big price right now.”
Saudi Arabia intercepts drones over its eastern region
Saudi Arabia’s defence forces said it intercepted a drone heading towards the Shaybah oil field, as well as a ballistic missile and three drones launched towards the country’s eastern region. – Guardian
Netanyahu threatens new supreme leader and says Israeli strikes have killed top Iranian nuclear scientists
Israel’s prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu has issued a threat to kill Iran’s new supreme leader, as he used his first press conference since the start of the war to defend his joint military assault with the US against Iran.
Netanyahu said that Iran was “no longer the same” after nearly two weeks of US-Israeli bombardment and that Tehran had suffered blows to its elite Revolutionary Guards Corps and Basij paramilitary force.
Netanyahu also said that Israel aims to stop Iran from moving its nuclear and ballistic projects underground, and that some Israeli strikes have killed top Iranian nuclear scientists.
Asked about what actions Israel might take against Iran’s new ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and Hizbullah chief Naim Qassem, Netanyahu issued a threat: I wouldn’t issue life insurance policies on any of the leaders of the terrorist organization.
He said that Tehran and Hizbullah no longer pose the same threats that they once did.
Netanyahu also said that they can create conditions for a regime change, but that it was up to the Iranian people to take to the streets. “At the end of the day, it depends on you. It is in your hands,” he said. – Guardian
Australian government orders non-essential staff to leave Israel and UAE
The Australian government has told non-essential Australian officials in Israel and the United Arab Emirates to leave due to the deteriorating security situation amid the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Penny Wong, foreign affairs minister, announced the decision on Thursday night in which she said “essential” Australian officials would remain in the countries to help Australians who needed support.
She added that registrations for the department of foreign affairs crisis portal were open for Australians in Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Iran, Israel, Qatar and the UAE. – Guardian
Oh dear it looks now that British special forces in Northern Iraq have been hit.
But how could that be. Britain is not supposed to be involved in the Iran – US war. And here we are special forces involved in action Northern Iraq.
The war according to the Balloon in Chief was supposed to be a quick thing. A lightning surgical strike with overwhelming power. Decapitate, incapacitate and change the regime was the Trumpeted plan. Doesn’t seem to have worked out that way as Iran strikes out across the region, as people flee from all over the Gulf, as the Straits remain closed, as over twenty percent of the worlds oil and gas is chocked off, as merchant shipping is hit, as economic chaos spreads across the world.
And now, Blighty and her troops are right up to their proverbial necks in it. How many of our troops have been killed or injured or was it just the proverbial none so beloved of governments when they have people killed or injured. Or was this attack on Special Forces just a wee accident. But at least it will allow Britain to stand tall. Nothing like getting a bit blooded to raise the National pride. Send the Jocks in used to be a cry. And maybe it will again.
Or a few rousing choruses of Rule Britannia at this time might be no bad thing. And yes, it seems now that the Iranian attacks on British forces were cause by no lesser a man than Vladimir Putin himself. Well I never the very bogeyman himself.
Ah well we shall all have to wait and see what burden we shall all have to bear and how we can get our shoulder behind the proverbial time. We are I am afraid at war and it looks like there is no off ramp.
Well done Mr President.