Israeli-Owned Oil Tanker Bombed In Oman Drone Attack

An oil tanker associated with an Israeli billionaire has been struck by a bomb-carrying drone off the coast of Oman amid heightened tensions with Iran, an official told the Associated Press (AP).

Photo Insert: View aboard an Eastern Pacific Shipping vessel

The attack happened Tuesday night off the coast of Oman, the Mideast-based defense official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as he did not have authorization to discuss the attack publicly.

The tanker, MT Mercer Street, is operated by Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping, a company owned by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a British military organization in the region monitoring shipping, told the AP: “We are aware of an incident and it’s being investigated at this time.”

In February 2021, the Liberian-flagged oil tanker Pacific Zircon was also attacked in the gulf. The tanker was also operated by Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping, which is owned by Idan Ofer.

The United States Navy's Fifth Fleet is aware of an incident in the Gulf of Oman involving a commercial vessel, Commander Timothy Hawkins told Reuters on Wednesday.

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