According to the British Ministry of Defense, a commercial ship owned by an Israeli company has been targeted in the North Arabian Sea near the coast of Oman. The attack was carried out by IRGC Navy as per the unconfirmed report.
For the first time, IRGC Navy might have probably used a suicide drone to target a commercial ship. The Liberian flagged, Japanese owned & Israeli-managed “MERCER STREET” oiler was hit by what appears to be a slow-moving drone and not a fast missile resulting in the death of two sailors.
As per the UK-based Zodiac Maritime Office statement, the news has been confirmed. The vessel was involved in a suspected Piracy incident.
“We can confirm that there has been a suspected Piracy incident onboard the product tanker M/T Mercer Street.
The Ship is a Japanese-owned vessel managed by our UK-based Zodiac Maritime Office. At the time of the incident, the vessel was in the northern Indian Ocean traveling from Dar es Salaam to Fujairah with no cargo on board.
We are in coordination and liaising with UK MTO and other relevant authorities.
We will provide additional information as it becomes available.”
