Images Show Damage Reported From Iranian Tanker Explosions in Red Sea
October 14: Iran has released photos of an oil tanker that it says was attacked off the coast of Saudi Arabia.
The photos show two large holes in the Sabiti tanker, which Tehran says was hit twice in the Red Sea on 11 October by an unknown assailant.
[…] If verified, this latest attack would mark the first such attack on one of Iran’s own vessels.
Iran’s national oil company had said last week’s explosions on the vessel showed it had been attacked “likely by missiles”.
What do the images show?
The images, released by the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC), are dated 13 October and show two holes above the waterline.
The NITC said the attack caused oil to spill into the Red Sea.
Dr Sidharth Kaushal, a research fellow at the UK-based Royal United Services Institute, told the BBC the photos “probably prove” the tanker was attacked, but it was not clear what with.
Rather than illustrating damage inflicted by a rocket, Dr Kaushal said the holes appeared similar to those left after alleged limpet mine attacks attributed to Iran in June, which it denied.
Source: BBC
Oil leaks from Iranian tanker on Oct. 11. (National Iranian Tanker Co.) 
Oil leaks from Iranian tanker on Oct. 11. (National Iranian Tanker Co.) 
Damaged hull. (National Iranian Tanker Co.) 
In this photo taken on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, and released by the official news agency of the Iranian Oil Ministry, SHANA, show the scene of damage caused by two missiles that allegedly struck the Iranian oil tanker Sabiti, at the Red Sea. Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani warned Sunday it would be “a big mistake” to think his country won’t respond to threats after a mysterious attack on one of its oil tankers. (SHANA via AP) (Associated Press/AP)
