The Iraqi military successfully defused a mine attached to an Iraqi oil tanker, and an investigation into the incident is underway.
The Iraqi military said Saturday (Jan. 2) that Iraqi naval bomb disposal experts successfully defused the mine.
Iraq confirmed a day earlier reports from private security companies that a mine was found affixed to the side of an Iraqi oil tanker chartered from the Iraqi Oil Marketing Company (SOMO) in the Persian Gulf. The tanker was flying the Liberian flag and was refueling another ship.
A statement from the Iraqi military said the relevant Iraqi government authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. No group has claimed responsibility for the incident.
The military statement did not provide further details, but the two security companies said they found an adsorption mine, usually affixed underwater to the side of a ship by special forces divers, that would cause serious damage to the ship when detonated.
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran are rising at the same time. Trump administration officials have said Iran could attack on the one-year anniversary of the bombing of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force Major General Qasem Soleimani near Baghdad, and the U.S. has now sent B-52 bombers over the Persian Gulf and a nuclear submarine into the Gulf.
The Iraqi government is planning a series of events this week to mark the first anniversary of Soleimani’s bombing, including a ceremony at Baghdad airport Saturday evening.
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