Drone hits Israeli-linked tanker; Iran frees 2 Greek tankers

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By JON GAMBRELL

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — 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, officials said Wednesday. Meanwhile, Greece said Iran freed two Greek oil tankers held by Tehran since May.

The drone attack on the Liberian-flagged oil tanker Pacific Zircon happened Tuesday night off the coast of Oman, one Mideast-based defense official told The Associated Press. The official was not authorized to discuss the attack publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Pacific Zircon is operated by Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping, which is a company ultimately owned by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer.

In a statement, Eastern Pacific Shipping said the Pacific Zircon, carrying gas oil, had been “hit by a projectile” some 150 miles (240 kilometers) off the coast of Oman.



This undated photo made available by Nabeel Hashmi shows Liberian-flagged oil tanker Pacific Zircon, operated by Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping in Jebel Ali port, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Aug. 16, 2015. 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. (AP Photo/Nabeel Hashmi)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/iran-middle-east-business-united-kingdom-dubai-3b3d6656d291c07165430e9025de14bf

[Ray Bruns]

1. It all depends on who's flag you're flying.

[Ford_Prefect]

2. Pipeline Wars part xxxxxxx* continues.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

3. AP is like clockwork...amid heightened tensions with Iran...3 months is the general gap.

[EX500rider]

4. So they should not report the news or this did not happen?

Or is Iran still stirring up shit via their proxies?

[Alexander Of Assyria]

5. Editorialized always with...heightened tension with...fill in the blank with Iran, hk, hk.

Wonder if any of the media there report on the American military cruising near their shores daily? All over the world, near every shore?

Heightened tensions…with America, never!?!! But America creates tension all over the world, 24/7 as intended. How can it not, weapons on air land and sea and space.

Could say having a weapons platform is space is heightening tensions around the world…where’s that tension reporting? I see the propaganda mixed in and other facts left out!

It’s a curse! Don’t be mad, help me!

[EX500rider]

6. The US Navy cruising in international waters

Isn't quite as newsworthy as Iran blowing up tankers to most people

[Alexander Of Assyria]

7. Yes, they just cruising, like a holiday! Definitely not an invasion training, no cause for alarm

by anyone! Firing missiles into the sea is to be condemned, as much as firing up war mongering.

[EX500rider]

8. Again the US Navy peacefully cruising in international waters is not warmongering

Nor is it any kind of invasion training.
The Marines are the ones who trained for that and when they do it they actually train by landing on beaches... Not cruising offshore on the ship.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

9. Don't think the folks who are on beaches a few dozen miles from the holiday cruisers and

the hundreds of warbirds happily cruising the skies, would agree.

Why not do the cruising, say off Americas own shores? Or off the Philippines, India, Burma, etc. Etc. We both know why!

Practise males perfect! A must for an international invasion of a country!

When China sends an international carrier flotilla off Americas shores, in international waters, ofc, I m sure there will be no outcry at all, using same logic!??

[EX500rider]

10. Yes we do know why

It is in the best interest of all democratic countries for the US Navy to cruise the Persian Gulf to keep Iran from interfering in the shipment of oil to the world. None of them would like to see it stop except for the theological dictatorship know as the Islamic Republic of Iran. You can keep carrying water for them if you want but not sure why.