Iran navy rescues sailors following 'tanker attack' off Fujairah coast
An incident took place off the coast of Fujairah.
2 min read
The incident took place off the coast of Fujairah [Getty]
Sailors from two oil tankers damaged off the coast of the UAE have been rescued by Iran's navy, media reported on Thursday.
Iran state media said forces rescued 44 crew members after an "accident" on a tanker on Thusday, and comes a month after a similar incident in the same area.
The Panama-flagged tanker Kokuka Courageous was also damaged following another incident off the coast of the emirate of Fujairah.
The US Navy's 5th Fleet said it is "aware of the reported attack on tankers in the Gulf of Oman" and that it is assisting two oil tankers targeted in a "reported attack" in Gulf of Oman.
Rescuers were alerted after a UK maritime safety group warned of an "unspecified incident" in Gulf of Oman, urging "extreme caution" amid heightened US-Iran tensions.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which is run by the British navy, put out the alert early on Thursday. It did not elaborate but said it was investigating.
Four commercial vessels of various nationalities were allegedly targeted by acts of sabotage off the coast of the UAE on Sunday.
The assault, which has yet to be claimed by a group, was condemned across the region.
Washington suspects Iran but Tehran has denied any involvement.
Agencies contributed to this story.
Iran state media said forces rescued 44 crew members after an "accident" on a tanker on Thusday, and comes a month after a similar incident in the same area.
"Forty-four sailors from the two foreign oil tankers which had an accident this morning in the Sea of Oman were saved from the water by the (navy) rescue unit of Hormozgan province and transferred to the port of Bandar-e-Jask," Iran's state news agency reported.
Front Altair, owned by Frontline, is reportedly in flames after "an attack" on the tanker near Fujairah, the location of attacks on shipping last month which was also blamed on Iran or its proxies, according to Shipping Watch.The Panama-flagged tanker Kokuka Courageous was also damaged following another incident off the coast of the emirate of Fujairah.
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The US Navy's 5th Fleet said it is "aware of the reported attack on tankers in the Gulf of Oman" and that it is assisting two oil tankers targeted in a "reported attack" in Gulf of Oman.
Rescuers were alerted after a UK maritime safety group warned of an "unspecified incident" in Gulf of Oman, urging "extreme caution" amid heightened US-Iran tensions.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which is run by the British navy, put out the alert early on Thursday. It did not elaborate but said it was investigating.
Four commercial vessels of various nationalities were allegedly targeted by acts of sabotage off the coast of the UAE on Sunday.
The assault, which has yet to be claimed by a group, was condemned across the region.
Washington suspects Iran but Tehran has denied any involvement.
Agencies contributed to this story.
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