An oil tanker belonging to an Israeli billionaire has been hit by a bomb-carrying drone off the coast of Oman.
The vessel, operated by Eastern Pacific Shipping, based in Singapore but owned by Idan Ofer, was attacked on Tuesday evening, according to a defense official.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a British military organization which monitors shipping in the area, said it was “aware of an incident”, which is “under investigation”.
The vessel has been identified as the Pacific Zircon.
The attack comes at a time of heightened tensions with Iran and ahead of the World Cup in neighboring Qatar.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but Tehran and Israel are engaged in a years-long war amid broader tensions in the Middle East.
He also reportedly provided Russia with drones to use in its war against Ukraine.
The United States has blamed Iran for a series of attacks off the United Arab Emirates in 2019.
Tehran then began to step up its nuclear program after the United States unilaterally withdrew from its atomic deal with world powers.
Iranian state media had no comment.
