A cargo ship operating near Umm Qasr port in Iraq was struck by a drone attack on Monday. The following day, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) took responsibility for a missile attack on a commercial vessel, asserting it was justified retaliation against “terrorist” US forces after an incident involving an Iranian ship.
The initial explosion took place Monday, roughly 40 nautical miles southeast of Umm Qasr. According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations Center (UKMTO), the ship was hit by an unidentified projectile on the starboard side, resulting in a significant explosion.
Iraqi authorities indicated that a second explosion occurred on the same ship, caused by a drone strike while emergency responders were addressing the damage from the first incident.
“While we were assessing the damage from the initial blast, we noticed a drone overhead, which was soon followed by a loud explosion that ignited the tanker,” remarked an Iraqi maritime patrol officer.
At the time, there was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, and the UKMTO did not specify which vessel was targeted.
Later on Monday, EOS Marine Security Services stated that the ship involved was registered under the Panama flag and named MSC Sariska V, which belongs to the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the largest container shipping line globally.
MSC Sariska V had recently unloaded cargo at Umm Qasr. According to EOS Marine Corps Advisors Director Martin Kelly, the ship collided with what seemed to be a USV (unmanned surface vehicle) in Iraqi waters.
On Tuesday, MSC confirmed that the Sariska V was indeed struck by two projectiles in Umm Qasr. The company expressed “deep concern” over these unprovoked attacks, emphasizing the risks to innocent seafarers and essential maritime trade in the region.
The Iranian state-run Tasnim news agency reported a statement from the Revolutionary Guards Navy, indicating that the Sariska V was targeted as part of retaliation against “enemies of the United States and Zionists” who were allegedly equipped with cruise missiles, following US military actions against Iranian vessels like the rian star in the Sea of Oman.
The Revolutionary Guards further asserted that any aggressive acts by US forces in the area would trigger a strong response.
The rian star, a cargo ship flagged in Gambia, was reportedly disabled by a US missile attack while attempting to breach a blockade to reach Iran, after neglecting over 20 warnings from the US Navy, according to reports. The ship was left adrift in the Gulf of Oman.
As the cease-fire with Iran continues, the US military has claimed responsibility for disabling five commercial vessels and has sent 116 ships to enforce the naval blockade comprehensively, as stated by CENTCOM.
