An investigation led by US Central Command has determined the Islamic Republic was responsible for a fatal drone attack on an oil tanker off the coast of Oman.
On July 30, a one-way attack drone loaded with approximately 10kg of explosives struck the Israeli-operated MV Mercer Street between the bridge and the funnel.
Two crewmembers – the ship’s master, an as-yet unnamed Romanian national, and British citizen Adrian Underwood, an army veteran working as a security guard – were killed in the blast. The stricken ship was later escorted by the US Navy to a “safe location”.
The strike came after two previous, unsuccessful unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks on the evening of July 29, both of which were reported by the crew via distress calls.
On Friday, August 6, US Central Command said it had established the Iranian state was responsible for what Israel and the G7 countries have unanimously declared a criminal act.
“The investigative team found small remnants of at least one of the UAVs,” the body said in a statement, “which the crew had rescued from the sea.”
The third UAV that successfully hit the boat, it added, “was loaded with military-grade explosives, which created a six-foot hole in the topside of the pilot house and badly damaged the interior.
“Explosive chemical tests indicated the presence of a nitrate-based explosive, causing investigators to conclude the UAV had been intentionally constructed to damage the ship and harm those on board.”
Inspectors also discovered part of the third UAV’s wing and some internal components. They were found to be nearly identical to older samples of Iranian combat drones.
The attack also took place within Iranian missiles’ documented range. US Fifth Fleet officials and UK and Israeli explosives experts also examined the evidence virtually and agreed it was produced in Iran.
Unverified reports in British media on Sunday stated the drone was an Ababil-B, which was first developed in 2001 and is a a variant of the Ababil-2: a relatively cheap and low-range target drone widely exported by Iran to states and proxies in the Middle East.
The attack on the MV Mercer Street has led to diplomatic tumult, with the Iranian ambassadors to the UK and Romania summoned by officials in London and Bucharest.
Both countries have promised to coordinate a response alongside Israel and the US. On Friday, the foreign ministers of the G7 – the UK, the US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan – and the EU High Representative also said in a joint statement: “This was a deliberate and targeted attack, and a clear violation of international law.
“All available evidence clearly points to Iran. There is no justification for this attack... Iran’s behaviur, alongside its support to proxy forces and non-state armed actors, threatens international peace and security.”
The Iranian Foreign Ministry called the allegations “baseless” on Saturday and suggested it was a “conspiracy” by “the Zionist regime” (Israel) to undermine Iran on the international stage ahead of Ebrahim Raisi’s swearing-in as president.
Related coverage:
Tehran Blamed for Fatal, Third Attack on an Israeli Commercial Vessel
MV Mercer Street Attack Puts Spotlight on IRGC's Secretive Drone Unit
visit the accountability section
In this section of Iran Wire, you can contact the officials and launch your campaign for various problems
Interested in writing for IranWire?
Share your stories.
comments