It WAS sabotage: Iran 'used EXPLOSIVES' to blow holes in four ships, including two Saudi oil tankers, anchored in the Persian Gulf, amid building tensions between the US and Iran
An American military team's initial assessment is that Iranian or Iranian-backed proxies used explosives Sunday to blow large holes in four ships anchored off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, a U.S. official said Monday.
The official said each ship has a 5- to 10-foot hole in it, near or just below the water line, and the team's early belief is that the holes were caused by explosive charges.
The team of U.S. military experts was sent to investigate the damages at the request of the UAE, but American officials have not provided any details about what exactly happened or any proof as yet about the possible Iranian involvement in the explosions.
Gulf officials have characterized the damage to the tankers as sabotage.
The U.S. has warned ships that 'Iran or its proxies' could be targeting maritime traffic in the region, and America has moved additional ships and aircraft into the region.
The incident comes after months of increasing diplomatic and economic pressure on Iran, which the U.S. accuses of threatening American interests and allies in the region, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Asked about the sabotage, President Trump warned that Tehran would 'suffer greatly' if it enraged Washington, predicting a 'bad problem for Iran if something happens'.
Tehran has distanced itself from the apparent attacks, calling an investigation into the 'alarming' episode and warning of 'adventurism' by foreign players to disrupt maritime security.
Official: Initial US assessment blames Iran for ship attacks | Daily Mail Online