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Four commercial vessels were targeted by "sabotage operations" near the territorial waters of the United Arab Emirates without causing casualties, the foreign ministry said on Sunday in a statement tweeted by state news agency WAM.
The incident occurred near the UAE emirate of Fujairah, one of the world's largest bunkering hubs that lies just outside the Strait of Hormuz, it said. The strait is a vital oil and natural gas corridor for the global energy market.
"Subjecting commercial vessels to sabotage operations and threatening the lives of their crew is considered a dangerous development," the statement said.
The blasts were heard between 4:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. local time (00:00 — 03:00 GMT), the broadcaster reported, adding that from seven to 10 oil tankers were in flames. The broadcaster continued by saying that the real cause of the incident has still been unknown.
Other reports, citing eyewitnesses, suggested that American and French warplanes have been seen flying over the port at the time of the incident.
The blasts were heard between 4 am and 7 am local time (00:00 - 03:00 GMT), the Al-Mayadeen broadcaster reported, adding that from seven to 10 oil tankers were in flames.
Despite the UAE government’s denial, witnesses have emphasized that the blasts have taken place and some media sources have even went further, identifying a number of oil tankers hit by the explosions by their hull numbers as follows:
AMJAD tanker
No.: 9779800
Marzouqah tanker
No.: 9165762
Miraj oil tanker
No.: 9394741
A.MICHEL oil tanker
No.: 9177674
FNSA10 oil tanker
No.: 9432074
🔥
“If (the Americans) make a move we will hit them in the head,” he added, according to ISNA.
The foreign ministry of the United Arab Emirates reported a sabotage operation near Fujairah port.
Previously, Fujairah port officials denied the occurrence of explosions but in the afternoon the media outlets reported that four commercial ships in the east of Fujairah port in Oman Sea were targeted with a sabotage operation.
originally posted by: Qboneq
Sounds to me are like the usual “CIA black-op” to blame all on Iranian military and their IRGC activities thus milking the UAE/Saudis for their protections and justifying the American military presence.
What else can be…?
originally posted by: worldstarcountry
a reply to: Qboneq
It could very well be Iranian/houthi operation. The Iranian proxy militia Allah ansar, commonly known as the houthi openly threatened the uae last year, have already fire missiles towards abu Dhabi at the end of 2018 as well. This coupled with irans threats against its neighbors would imo connect the irgc and their proxy militias in this sabotage.
Earlier this week, a number of powerful explosions rocked Saudi Arabia’s port city of Yanbu’, an important petroleum shipping terminal for the kingdom. Reports, however, fell short of giving any reason for the blasts or possible casualties.
originally posted by: crayzeed
It is being reported as sabotage. If the planes were involved they would report it as an attack, no matter whos planes they were. I would also surmise if aircraft were involved their munitions would do a lot more damage than sabotage.
originally posted by: Jesushere
Still Shocked the US response is silence so far. You would think Iran targetting 4 commercial ships in UAE would be headline news around the world. No small operation to get men on board each ship and deliberately sabotage. Surely US intelligence are having meetings about this right now?
If was not done by Iran then there bad actors at play in the region and they are trying to start a war.
originally posted by: mightmight
originally posted by: Qboneq
Sounds to me are like the usual “CIA black-op”
Oh please enlighten us, why?