Two fuel tankers caught fire in Iraqi waters after being attacked early Thursday, marking another escalation in the growing wave of strikes on commercial shipping across the Middle East.
According to Iraqi port officials and maritime security sources, the vessels were targeted in the ship-to-ship transfer area south of Basra. The attacks reportedly involved explosive boats or projectiles, though details remain unclear.
The vessels were identified as the Marshall Islands-flagged 74,000 dwt tanker Safesea Vishnu and the Malta-flagged 50,200 dwt tanker Zefyros.
Iraq’s State Oil Marketing Company said the Zefyros was carrying condensate from Basra Gas Company at the time of the incident.
Both vessels were reported ablaze following the attack. Rescue teams evacuated crew members from the tankers, and 25 seafarers were brought to safety, according to local officials. Authorities also confirmed that one body was recovered from the water, while search operations for additional missing crew members continued.
The incidents occurred amid a broader escalation of attacks on maritime traffic since the U.S.-Israeli coalition launched strikes on Iran nearly two weeks ago. According to maritime security reports, at least 15 commercial vessels have now been targeted in the region.
In a separate incident, the 3,200-TEU containership Source Blessing was struck by a projectile north of Jebel Ali, suffering material damage. All crew members were reported safe.
The latest attacks have deepened concerns about security in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding Gulf waters, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Shipping brokers say the growing risk of mines, missile strikes and drone attacks has forced many shipowners to reroute vessels or suspend operations in the area.
