Two Iranian boats are suspected of having blasted a US ship docked in an Iraqi seaport last week.
The boats were loaded with explosives, and apparently, they deliberately rammed into a stationary US tanker vessel at the port of Khor Al Zubair. It is said that the ship was there to load naphtha. Naphtha is a crude oil product used to produce ethylene, gasoline, and other petroleum products.
One Life Lost, 27 Escape
The US ship burst into flames as soon as it was hit with explosives, and it instantly burst into flames.
27 of the crew members were lucky to escape to safety. They managed to dive into the water as their ship burned. However, one crew member of the ship known as Safesea Vishnu, lost his life.
US Marines Attacked in Bahrain
The Iraqi attack is not the first during the ongoing war to target a waterfront. The first day Israel and the US attacked Iran, Iran retaliated, and one of its targets was the US Marine headquarters in Bahrain.
On that Saturday, 28th February 2026, intense smoke could be seen billowing into the sky from around the Fifth Fleet service center in Bahrain’s capital, Manama.
Four people were reportedly injured mainly by falling debris, with three of them sustaining minor injuries.
Hormuz Strait Operational
Meanwhile, Iran has clarified that operations in the Strait of Hormuz are continuing, though with some restrictions. Iran says it cannot allow enemy vessels into the area.
US President Donald Trump has appealed to Britain, Japan, France, and South Korea to help secure the Strait of Hormuz by sending warships to the Gulf. Trump even included China in that appeal made over the weekend, but none of the countries has given any commitment.