Oil tanker ‘linked to Israeli billionaire’ is struck by a bomb-carrying drone off Oman

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 Israeli official told Reuters that Iran was behind the incident, using a Shahed-136 drone – the type it has been supplying to Russia for the conflict in Ukraine. 

The attack on the Liberian-flagged Pacific Zircon oil tanker happened on Tuesday night.

The vessel is operated by Eastern Pacific Shipping, a Singapore-based company controlled by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer.

The attack on the Liberian-flagged Pacific Zircon oil tanker happened on Tuesday night (file photo)

Satellite-tracking showed the Pacific Zircon located off the coast of Oman

Iran’s Nournews, which is affiliated with the nation’s top security body, blamed Israel for the attack.

The media outlet tweeted: ‘The Zionists’ evil during the World Cup, started earlier. Regional competitions and cabinet formation crisis in Israel, have activated Hebrew-Arab axis to attack the oil tanker in the #OmanSea in order to involve #Qatar and #Iran simultaneously with the help of media atmosphere.’

It was an apparent reference to a regional axis formed when Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain set up ties with Israel in 2020, partly triggered by mutual security concerns over Iran.

Bahrain and the UAE were among four Arab states that had boycotted Qatar in a dispute that was for the most part resolved early last year.

The Pacific Zircon was last located off the coast of Liwa, northern Oman according to satellite-tracking site MarineTraffic.com. It had just left Sohar, Oman and was destined for Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Eastern Pacific Shipping said in a statement that the Pacific Zircon, that was carrying gas oil, had been ‘hit by a projectile’ around 150 miles (240 kilometers) off the coast of Oman.

The statement said: ‘We are in communication with the vessel and there is no reports of injuries or pollution. All crew are safe and accounted for.

‘There is some minor damage to the vessel’s hull but no spillage of cargo or water ingress.’

United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a British military organisation in the region monitoring shipping said: ‘We are aware of an incident and it’s being investigated at this time.’

The United States Navy’s Fifth Fleet also said they were aware of the incident in the Gulf of Iran involving a commercial vessel.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

The vessel is operated by Eastern Pacific Shipping, a Singapore-based company controlled by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer. Mr Ofer is pictured at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in 2012

Tensions continue between Israel and Tehran with the yearslong shadow war in the wider Middle East.

Drone attacks have previously targeted Israeli-associated vessels in the region.

The US has blamed Iran for a series of attacks occurring off the coast of the United Arab Emirates in 2019. Tehran then had begun escalating its nuclear program following the US’ unilateral withdraw from its atomic deal with world powers.

A suspected Iranian drone strike hit the Israeli-associated oil tanker Mercer Street off the coast of Oman last year. Two people were killed in the 2021 attack.

The attack comes just days before the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.