The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has assessed that an Iranian Shahed-series explosive drone struck the commercial tanker “Pacific Zircon” earlier today in the Gulf of Oman. While the ship sustained damage, there were no casualties reported amongst the crew or pollution.
The ship is flagged in Liberia and operated by the Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping, which is owned by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer. The attack is likely in response to recent Israeli airstrikes against Iranian-linked targets in Syria.
General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, released a statement saying “This unmanned aerial vehicle attack against a civilian vessel in this critical maritime strait demonstrates, once again, the destabilizing nature of Iranian malign activity in the region.”
