Middle East maritime tensions escalate --------------------------------------------- The United States and Britain have blamed Iran for carrying out a fatal drone attack on an Israeli-managed tanker off the coast of Oman --------------------------------------------- RECENT MIDDLE EAST SHIPPING INCIDENTS --------------------------------------------- 1 Feb 26: Explosion damages Israeli-owned Helios Ray cargo ship in Gulf of Oman. Israel blames Iran for attack --------------------------------------------- 2 Mar 10: Iranian container vessel Shahr e Kord slightly damaged after being hit by explosive object in Eastern Mediterranean --------------------------------------------- 3 Mar 25: Israeli-owned Lori container ship damaged after being hit by suspected Iranian missile attack in Arabian Sea --------------------------------------------- 4 Apr 7: Iran’s Saviz cargo ship – believed to be used as floating military base – struck by explosion off coast of Yemen --------------------------------------------- 5 Apr 13: Israeli-owned Hyperion Ray vehicle carrier sustains minor damage in reported missile attack off UAE’s Fujairah port --------------------------------------------- 6 Jun 2: Support ship Kharg – Iran’s largest naval vessel by tonnage – catches fire and sinks near port of Jask in unclear circumstances --------------------------------------------- 7 Jul 3: CSAV Tyndall cargo ship – previously owned by Israeli-led company – comes under attack on its way from Saudi Arabia to UAE --------------------------------------------- 8 Jul 29: Drone strike on Israeli-managed Mercer Street tanker (left) off Oman kills two crewmen – British and Romanian nationals --------------------------------------------- 500km 300 miles 2 4 7 6 1 5 8 3 IRAN ISRAEL SAUDI ARABIA OMAN UAE YEMEN --------------------------------------------- Sources: AP, Reuters, Times of Israel Picture: Twitter © GRAPHIC NEWS words:231