Two U.S. Navy explosive ordnance technicians boarded M/T Pacific Zircon, Nov. 16, to evaluate the harm and gather unmanned aerial automobile (UAV) particles fragments for forensic evaluation. Throughout a two-hour survey and proof assortment course of, the technicians additionally obtained explosive residue samples for lab testing.
U.S. fifth Fleet transported the gathered proof to a lab at its Bahrain headquarters the place technicians confirmed Iran’s connection to the assault. The aerial drone that hit the industrial tanker was recognized as a Shahed-136 UAV, becoming a historic sample of Iran’s rising use of a deadly functionality instantly or by its proxies throughout the Center East. Iran has provided aerial drone expertise to the Houthis in Yemen utilized in assaults in opposition to Saud Arabia and the United Arab Emirates earlier this yr.
Moreover, the Shahed-136 platform is similar aerial drone Iran has provided to Russia to be used in opposition to Ukraine.
On Nov. 15, the explosive-laden aerial drone attacked Pacific Zircon at roughly 7:30 p.m. within the Northern Arabian Sea, tearing a 30-inch-wide gap into the again of the ship whereas subsequently penetrating and damaging inner compartments. The UAV’s explosive affect additionally broken a shipboard boiler, potable water tank and life raft.
“The Iranian assault on a industrial tanker transiting worldwide waters was deliberate, flagrant and harmful, endangering the lives of the ship’s crew and destabilizing maritime safety within the Center East,” mentioned Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. fifth Fleet and Mixed Maritime Forces. Cooper additionally serves because the multinational activity pressure commander for the Worldwide Maritime Safety Assemble, a 10-member naval coalition whose forces present maritime safety close to the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb.
Upon studying of the assault, the British Royal Navy dispatched frigate HMS Lancaster (F229) to the scene. U.S. fifth Fleet additionally directed guided-missile destroyer USS The Sullivans (DDG 68), patrol coastal ship USS Chinook (PC 9) and a P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol plane to help and assess the state of affairs.
