Two Oil Tankers Attacked in Gulf of Oman
June 13th, 2019Via: Reuters:
Attacks on two oil tankers on Thursday in the Gulf of Oman left one ablaze and both adrift, shipping firms said, driving oil prices up 4% over worries about Middle East supplies.
The Front Altair was on fire in waters between Gulf Arab states and Iran after an explosion that a source blamed on a magnetic mine. The crew of the Norwegian vessel were picked up by a vessel in the area and passed to an Iranian rescue boat.
A second Japanese-owned tanker was abandoned after being hit by a suspected torpedo, the firm that chartered the ship said. The crew were also picked up.
The attacks were the second in a month near the Strait of Hormuz, a major strategic waterway for world oil supplies.
The United States and Saudi Arabia blamed Iran for last month’s attacks using limpet mines on four tankers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, a charge Tehran denies.
There were no immediate statements apportioning blame after Thursday’s incidents.
Well, can’t say this was unexpected. What will be telling, and increasingly so, is if this doesn’t start a war. Seems there are many options for “the world” to counter, asymmetrically. Japanese oil too, man, they can’t catch a break on the energy front.
…false flag, red herring, lift prices, distraction?