At the end of February, Israel accused Iran of setting off explosives aboard its vessel Helios Ray, which was travelling from Saudi Arabia to Singapore, while a few weeks later it was Iran’s turn to blame Israel for damages sustained by one of its container ships travelling to Syria. Over the last ten months, both Israel and Iran have carried out strikes against each other. ![]() “Iran has committed to an aggressive posture throughout the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, with an intent to dominate its immediate sphere of influence, but also in a bid to posture against what it perceives as the encroachment of foreign forces and a hedge against the thawing in relations between Israel and other regional states,” reads an analysis by security firm Dryad Global. On the opposing side, Iran has allegedly carried out several attacks against vessels around the Arabian Sea, Red Sea, and the Straight of Hormuz, a focal point for oil exports. ![]() Israel’s determination to remain the only nuclear power in the Middle East has led it to attack Iranian nuclear scientists and strike against Iranian ships believed to be transporting oil to Syria. Opponents for more than 40 years, Israel and Iran have translated their political animosity into a maritime shadow war, with both sides reportedly attacking each other, but not claiming responsibility. Iranian attacks against Israeli vessels – and Israeli attacks on Iranian vessels – have been in the spotlight for the last few years. The Lori is owned by Israeli firm XT Holdings, whose partial owner is Eyal Ofer’s younger brother, Idan Ofer. At the end of March, the container ship Lori fell victim to a missile while transiting through the Arabian Sea. In July the CSAV Tyndall vessel – previously owned by Zodiac Maritime – was allegedly attacked by Iran using similar methods. The Mercer Street incident was the last in a series of attacks to ships tied to the Ofer family. Tel-Aviv vs Tehran: a longstanding shadow war “We are working with our partners to consider our next steps and consulting with governments inside the region and beyond on an appropriate response, which will be forthcoming.” ![]() “Upon review of the available information, we are confident that Iran conducted this attack, which killed two innocent people, using one-way explosive UAVs, a lethal capability it is increasingly employing throughout the region,” read the statement. The escort in this case being a US missile destroyer and a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.Ī couple of days after the incident, the US Department of State stated that Iran was believed to be behind the attack and that the Iranian regime had used a suicide drone. Later that day, the company released a third announcement via Twitter, confirming that “the Mercer Street is under the control of her crew and under her own power at 14 knots to a safe location with a US naval escort”. The company released a statement on the afternoon of 30 July saying that “details of the incidents are still being established and an investigation into the incident is still underway”, and that Zodiac Maritime was working closely with the UKMTO and other relevant authorities.
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