UN Security Council Gets New Report on May 12 Tanker Attacks
The latest study concluded that a “state actor” was most likely behind the incidents.
(Bloomberg) -- The United Nations Security Council has received more details about attacks on four tankers off the United Arab Emirates that predated the pair of strikes in the Gulf of Oman last week that the U.S. has blamed on Iran.
The report by the U.A.E., Norway and Saudi Arabia included evidence that one of the targeted tankers, the Saudi Arabian-flagged Amjad, was approached by a “fast boast” that remained by the vessel’s side for nine minutes before departing.
Echoing preliminary findings by the three nations on the strikes, the latest study concluded that a “state actor” was most likely behind the incidents, though no nation was named. U.S. and Saudi officials have said Iran was behind the strikes, a charge officials in Tehran have rejected.
“Altogether, these are strong indications that the four attacks were part of a sophisticated and coordinated operation carried out by an actor with significant operational capacity in terms of intelligence, equipment, and training -- most likely a state actor,” according to the investigation.
To contact the reporter on this story: David Wainer in New York at dwainer3@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Bill Faries at wfaries@bloomberg.net, Larry Liebert
©2019 Bloomberg L.P.