Iran struck an oil tanker with connections to Israel near Oman on Friday, killing two crew members on board. It was the first deadly attack in the continuing maritime war-between-wars and has led Jerusalem to accuse Tehran of “sowing violence and destruction.”
The two crew members killed in the attack on the Mercer Street were the Romanian captain and a British security officer. There were no other casualties.
Though owned by a Japanese company, the Mercer Street is operated by London-based Zodiac Maritime, part of Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Group.
While Iran has not taken responsibility for the attack, according to a report by the state-owned Iranian news network al-Alam, “well-informed sources” said the attack was in response to an alleged Israeli strike on an airport in the Quseir region of Syria last week in which two fighters were killed.
Update on the situation involving the M/T Mercer Street: pic.twitter.com/sRuuyvwLA8
— Zodiac Maritime (@Zodiac_Maritime) July 30, 2021
In a statement on Friday night, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said he was in constant contact with his British counterpart Dominic Raab, and “noted to him the need to respond severely to the attack.”
“Iran is not just an Israeli problem, but an exporter of terrorism, destruction and instability that affects the whole world,” Lapid said. “We can never remain silent in the face of Iranian terrorism, which also harms freedom of navigation.”
Lapid also spoke with his Romanian counterpart Bogdan Aurescu, who thanked him Saturday on Twitter for his condolences over the Romanian captain’s death.
Aurescu tweeted that he hoped an investigation would swiftly establish the origin and nature of the “tragic event.” He also discussed with Lapid “concrete actions” to intensify cooperation between the two countries.
Lapid has instructed the embassies in London, Washington and New York to discuss the need for a diplomatic response with the relevant parties in the British and American governments as well as at the United Nations.
אני עומד בקשר רצוף עם שר החוץ הבריטי @DominicRaab, ציינתי בפניו הערב את הצורך להגיב בחומרה על ההתקפה על הספינה בה נהרג אזרח בריטי.בנוסף, הנחתי את השגרירויות בוושינגטון, בלונדון ובאו״ם לפעול מול בני שיחם בממשל ובמשלחות הרלבנטיות במטה האו"ם בניו יורק.
— יאיר לפיד - Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) July 30, 2021
According to a senior Israeli official, the attack – which took place just days before the swearing-in of Iran’s new hardline president Ebrahim Raisi – shows “the masks are coming off and no one can pretend they don’t know the character of the Iranian regime.
“Iran isn’t just Israel’s problem, it is a global problem, and its behavior endangers free global shipping and trade. Our campaign against them will continue.
ADVISORY 001/JUL/2021Category: ATTACK – NON PIRACYhttps://t.co/af3G66Lllr#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/Dqc1oCP1zQ
— United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO) July 30, 2021
“This is an Iranian terror attack that killed two innocent men, harming international shipping,” the official continued, adding that “Iran is sowing violence and destruction in every corner of the region. Out of their eagerness to attack an Israeli target, they embroiled themselves and incriminated themselves in the killing of foreign citizens.”
Defense Minister Benny Gantz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kohavi spoke on the phone following the strike, which is being treated as a severe terror attack.
The Mercer Street had been on its way from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates and was empty of cargo when it was attacked northeast of the Omani island of Masirah.
Further update on the situation involving the M/T Mercer Street: pic.twitter.com/1KiHCGYEoq
— Zodiac Maritime (@Zodiac_Maritime) July 30, 2021