Pentagon releases footage of strikes on Iranian oil tankers
The Pentagon released footage showing the US Navy's electronic-cyber strike against two Iranian-flagged tankers near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's foreign ministry called the operation 'an attack on national sovereignty'. Oil prices ticked higher.
The released footage from the US Fifth Fleet shows the navigation computers of the Iranian tankers Forest and Bahaar being disabled. Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said the operation ended 'without material damage' and was 'a calibrated response' to Iranian harassment manoeuvres along the Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran said it considered the incident 'an armed attack' and would seek redress through international arbitration. Photographs show Revolutionary Guards naval personnel boarding the vessels, but no armed reply has been reported.
Brent crude rose to 73.40 dollars a barrel. Lloyd's said tanker hull insurance premiums on the Hormuz route had been raised by another 4 per cent. The Chinese foreign ministry called for 'de-escalatory diplomacy' to resolve tensions.
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