Oil tanker hit by ‘unknown projectile’ in Iraqi territorial waters

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - An oil tanker was hit by “an unknown projectile” near Iraq’s key southern port, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said Wednesday. The incident marks the fourth notable maritime drone and projectile attack recorded in Iraqi territorial waters since the outbreak of the Iran war in late February.

UKMTO said it “received a report of an incident” southeast of Iraq’s Grand al-Faw Port, located off the coast of the southern Basra province, at the northern end of the Gulf. 

“The Master of a tanker has reported being struck by an unknown projectile,” UKMTO added, noting that the “crew are reported safe and there is no environmental impact reported at this time.” The monitor further advised vessels to “transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO whilst authorities are investigating.”

Later on Wednesday, Baghdad's transport ministry confirmed that “a tanker designated for transporting fuel oil, flying the flag of the Republic of Panama, was struck by an unknown source while present inside Iraqi territorial waters, causing physical damage to the vessel's hull.”

“The incident resulted in no casualties or injuries among the ship's crew, nor did it cause any leakage of its cargo into the water,” the ministry statement added, noting that the relevant authorities “began implementing necessary precautionary measures” and that field monitoring of the surrounding area was underway “to ensure there is no fuel leak, additional damage, or indicators that could pose a risk to navigation safety and the marine environment."

The attack “resulted in no casualties or injuries among the ship's crew, nor did it cause any leakage of its cargo into the water,” the ministry statement added, noting that the relevant authorities are “following up on the circumstances of the incident and working to verify the source and causes of the strike.”

Since the outbreak of the Iran war in late February, at least four maritime drone and projectile attacks have been reported in Iraqi waters.

Two foreign-flagged fuel tankers were targeted and set ablaze near al-Faw port in mid-March, with Iraqi rescue vessels evacuating the crews. Days later, a drone struck radar systems at Iraq's Umm Qasr Naval Base in Basra, causing minor structural damage. In mid-July, another drone hit a commercial cargo vessel near an offshore oil terminal off southern Basra province.

Separately, the UKMTO on Wednesday reported another maritime incident in regional waters, when a vessel at anchor was seen listing off the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) coast. The British navy monitor attributed the incident to “water ingress” caused by an attack.