ISTANBUL, March 12 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- At least one person was killed in an attack on two oil tankers in territorial waters near the southern Iraqi port of Basra, an official said early Thursday, Anadolu Ajansi reported, citing Al-Iraqiya News.
Lt. Gen. Saad Maan of the Security Media Cell confirmed the strikes on oil tankers in the port of Umm Qasr, adding that 38 crew members were rescued.
“Two oil tankers were subjected to a cowardly act of sabotage,” he said, noting the attack took place within Iraqi territorial waters.
Maan said six ships were deployed to rescue the crews, stressing that the government is making an effort to ensure that Iraq does not become a party to the war.
The developments came as a regional escalation has flared up since Israel and the US launched a joint attack on Iran on Feb. 28 that has so far killed more than 1,200 people, including Iran's then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and injured over 10,000 others, according to Iranian authorities.
Iran retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries that are home to US military assets.
-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU
BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; www.bernama.com; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies.
Follow us on social media :
Facebook : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatv, @bernamaradio
Twitter : @bernama.com, @BernamaTV, @bernamaradio
Instagram : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatvofficial, @bernamaradioofficial
TikTok : @bernamaofficial
