Near the Straight of Hormuz, two oil tankers were attacked on Thursday. The U.S. Navy has rushed to the scene to provide assistance. First video (see above) shows the tankers to be on fire. The attack sent oil prices soaring. From Politico via The Associated Press:
“Benchmark Brent crude spiked at one point by as much 4% in trading following the suspected attack, to over $62 a barrel, highlighting how crucial the area remains to global energy supplies. A third of all oil traded by sea passes through the strait, which is the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf.”
No injuries were reported in the attacks and no one has claimed responsibility. The tankers were bound for Japan and were attacked at the same time the Japanese prime minister was in Tehran visiting Iranian leaders.
(Update)
On Thursday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blamed Iran for the attacks.
“It is the assessment of the United States government that the Islamic Republic of Iran is responsible for the attacks that occurred in the Gulf of Oman today,” he said.
#Breaking: Video shows one of the oil tanker in the gulf of Oman being targeted by a explosive device. The White House suspects that #Iran is behind these attack on 2 tankers, on the sea. #US pic.twitter.com/zd52Z439n1
— Sotiri Dimpinoudis (@sotiridi) June 13, 2019
US Navy responding after apparent attack reported on oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman; says that US ships are rendering assistance. https://t.co/Bgb9i3Sk0v
— NBC News (@NBCNews) June 13, 2019