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Crude Prices Jump After Israeli Tanker Hit By Iranian Drone Off Oman Coast

seminole97

HR Legend
Jun 14, 2005
22,671
22,994
113
*allegedly Iranian

Crude prices are higher Wednesday morning after a bomb-carrying drone on Tuesday evening struck an oil tanker owned by an Israeli billionaire, The Associated Press reported.

The Liberian-flagged oil tanker Pacific Zircon was approximately 150 miles off the Omani coast at 730 pm local time when a "projectile" hit the vessel, a Mideast-based defense official told AP. AP said the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations was notified about the attack and is monitoring shipping lanes in the region.

"We are aware of an incident and it's being investigated at this time," UKMTO said.

Also, the commander of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, Timothy Hawkins, was briefed on the incident, according to Reuters.

Brent crude prices, which were down before the news, jumped and traded above $94 a barrel.
In a statement, Pacific Zircon's owner Eastern Pacific Shipping, which Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer owns, said the vessel was hauling diesel when it was "hit by a projectile ... there were no reports of injuries or pollution."

"All crew are safe and accounted for. There is some minor damage to the vessel's hull but no spillage of cargo or water ingress," the Singapore- based Eastern Pacific said.

Bloomberg cited a report via the Israeli Public Broadcasting Company (KAN) that said unidentified Israeli officials pointed the finger at Iran for the drone attack. Tracking data shows the vessel is off the Omani coast.

 
The retaliation from Israel on this one could be very interesting. Not folks you want to outright mess with.
 
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