ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraqi security forces are working to neutralize a mine found attached to a tanker leased to the country’s state oil company off the al-Faw port, the security media cell stated on Friday.
A “foreign body” was discovered attached to a ship in international waters of the Persian Gulf, some 28 nautical miles to sea on Thursday afternoon. The ship was leased to Iraq’s state oil marketing company SOMO. Explosive experts from the Ministry of the Interior were brought to the ship. “The team is still working to neutralize this mine and evacuate the target ship,” the media cell stated. A second ship has been evacuated, it added.
According to the Associated Press, a limpet mine was discovered by sailors transferring fuel from the Iraqi-leased tanker, Liberian-flagged MT Pola, to a second vessel, the Bermuda-flagged MT Nordic Freedom.
Tensions are high in the Persian Gulf and Iraq, ahead of Sunday, the first year anniversary of the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. The two were killed in a US drone strike near Baghdad airport on January 3.
Soleimani’s successor as head of Iran’s elite Quds force, Esmail Ghaani, said they are not deterred by Washington. “American mischief will not deter the Quds force from carrying on its resistance path,” he said on Friday, during days of ceremonies around the anniversary.
On Wednesday, for the second time this month, the US flew strategic bombers over the Persian Gulf as a show of force to deter Iran from attacking American interests in the Middle East. “The United States continues to deploy combat-ready capabilities into the US Central Command area of responsibility to deter any potential adversary, and make clear that we are ready and able to respond to any aggression directed at Americans or our interests,” said Gen. Frank McKenzie, the commander of Central Command. “We do not seek conflict, but no one should underestimate our ability to defend our forces or to act decisively in response to any attack.”
Iran’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations wrote to the Security Council about Washington’s “military adventurism” in the region and threats from American officials. “If unchecked, such warmongering tendencies could escalate the situation to an alarming level, and it is self-evident that the United States shall bear the full responsibility for all consequences,” wrote Eshaq Al-e Habib, calling on the UN to demand the US end its “destabilizing activities.”
Iranian-backed Iraqi militias are planning a demonstration on Sunday in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square.
A “foreign body” was discovered attached to a ship in international waters of the Persian Gulf, some 28 nautical miles to sea on Thursday afternoon. The ship was leased to Iraq’s state oil marketing company SOMO. Explosive experts from the Ministry of the Interior were brought to the ship. “The team is still working to neutralize this mine and evacuate the target ship,” the media cell stated. A second ship has been evacuated, it added.
According to the Associated Press, a limpet mine was discovered by sailors transferring fuel from the Iraqi-leased tanker, Liberian-flagged MT Pola, to a second vessel, the Bermuda-flagged MT Nordic Freedom.
Tensions are high in the Persian Gulf and Iraq, ahead of Sunday, the first year anniversary of the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. The two were killed in a US drone strike near Baghdad airport on January 3.
Soleimani’s successor as head of Iran’s elite Quds force, Esmail Ghaani, said they are not deterred by Washington. “American mischief will not deter the Quds force from carrying on its resistance path,” he said on Friday, during days of ceremonies around the anniversary.
On Wednesday, for the second time this month, the US flew strategic bombers over the Persian Gulf as a show of force to deter Iran from attacking American interests in the Middle East. “The United States continues to deploy combat-ready capabilities into the US Central Command area of responsibility to deter any potential adversary, and make clear that we are ready and able to respond to any aggression directed at Americans or our interests,” said Gen. Frank McKenzie, the commander of Central Command. “We do not seek conflict, but no one should underestimate our ability to defend our forces or to act decisively in response to any attack.”
Iran’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations wrote to the Security Council about Washington’s “military adventurism” in the region and threats from American officials. “If unchecked, such warmongering tendencies could escalate the situation to an alarming level, and it is self-evident that the United States shall bear the full responsibility for all consequences,” wrote Eshaq Al-e Habib, calling on the UN to demand the US end its “destabilizing activities.”
Iranian-backed Iraqi militias are planning a demonstration on Sunday in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square.
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