MASKED men in military uniforms have stormed an oil tanker off the coasts of Iran and Oman.
Sailing under a Greek flag, the St Nikolas ship was boarded some 50 miles off the coast of Oman as tensions hit boiling point in the Middle East.
Getty”Armed unauthorised persons’ have boarded an oil tanker near Iran[/caption]
It comes as British and US warships are poised to blitz Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
And the latest sea clash is some 24 hours after 18 drones and missiles were shot down in the Red Sea
It happened just days after Royal Navy destroyer HMS Diamond and American warships launched a coordinated blitz after the Houthis’ biggest attack so far on one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes on Tuesday night.
UKMTO, which provides warnings to sailors in the Middle East, said the vessel was stormed by a group of four or five people.
The incident took place in the early hours of Thursday some 50 miles off the coast of Oman, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.
The same vessel was once involved a dispute with the US Justice Department that saw a million barrels of Iranian crude oil seized, Sky News reports.
The armed intruders were reported to be wearing military style black uniforms and black masks.
UKTMO also reported hearing “unknown voices over the phone” alongside the ship’s captain after getting a report from the ship’s security manager.
The United States Navy’s Fifth Fleet did not immediately respond to a request for comment or further information.
It said it was unable to make further contact with the vessel and that the authorities were investigating the incident.
Yemen‘s Iran-backed Houthis have vowed to show support for Hamas following the outbreak of its war with Israel.
On November 19, the Houthis promised to target vessels they believe are heading to and from Israel.
The Houthis attacks have been concentrated on the Bab al-Mandab Strait, to the southwest of the Arabian Peninsula, while Thursday’s incident is located closer to the Strait of Hormuz.
Following their slogan of “Death to America, Death to Israel, curse the Jews and victory to Islam,” Houthi attacks have been disrupting global supply routes.
It comes after a senior ambassador warned the UK will not “stand by” and let the Iran-backed rebels attack the Red Sea.
Ambassador Dame Barbara Woodward said “all diplomatic means possible” were being used to stop the drone and missile strikes, with military action having not been ruled out.
On Tuesday night, British and American warships shot down a barrage of 18 drones and three missiles fired towards the Red Sea by Iranian-backed rebels.
Royal Navy destroyer HMS Diamond and American warships launched a coordinated blitz after the Houthis’ biggest attack so far on one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes on Tuesday night.
Q&A on Yemen’s Houthi rebels
WHO are the Houthis?
SHIA Islamist rebels who are in control of much of western Yemen. They formed in the 1990s and are backed by Iran.
Their slogan is “Death to America, Death to Israel, curse the Jews and victory to Islam”.
WHY are they attacking ships?
TO show support for Hamas following the outbreak of its war with Israel. On November 19, the Houthis promised to target vessels they believe are heading to and from Israel.
ARE they a danger to the UK?
YES. The attacks disrupt global supply routes. Ships are sailing further which could see prices and inflation go up.
Delays in natural gas shipments will force energy costs to rise