Disturbing footage has emerged showing the dramatic moment two oil tankers erupted into flames after allegedly being struck by boats laden with explosives.
This incident signals a serious escalation in the ongoing attacks on maritime shipping in the Gulf region.
The towering plumes of thick, black smoke could be seen rising ominously into the sky as flames rapidly engulfed the vessels, which were in the process of transporting fuel cargoes from Iraq at the time of the attack, late on Wednesday night.
The Iraqi port officials identified the tankers involved in this alarming incident as the Safesea Vishnu, which sails under the Marshall Islands flag, and the Zefyros, registered in Malta.
Both ships had recently completed loading fuel cargoes at Iraqi ports. Reports indicate that the explosion resulted in the tragic death of one crew member, while dozens of others were forced to abandon ship as ferocious flames consumed the vessels.
Farhan Al-Fartousi, a representative of Iraq’s General Company for Ports, provided updates to Al-Iraqiya News, stating that search and rescue operations had successfully saved 38 crew members from the burning tankers.
#Iraq confirms two oil tankers were attacked in its territorial waters, according to the Director General of Iraqi Ports, Farhan Al-Fartousi. An explosion was reported on one tanker. Authorities say 38 crew members have been rescued alive, while the search for missing individuals… https://t.co/Q7vzWmWTka pic.twitter.com/rBlzgeAKPG
— Peregraf (@PeregrafNews) March 12, 2026
He mentioned that rescue operations were still ongoing for others who remained unaccounted for, reinforcing the urgency of the situation. Al-Fartousi remarked, “The search continues for the missing,” Reuters reported.
In light of the attack, the Iraqi government decided to halt operations at its oil ports, a necessary precaution given the heightened risks.
However, it was clarified that commercial shipping terminals would continue to operate, as reported by the state news agency INA, which quoted the head of the government-run ports authority.
This troubling event follows reports of other maritime incidents in the region that day.
Earlier, maritime security authorities disclosed that three cargo ships were targeted and struck by projectiles of undetermined origin while navigating the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
Such occurrences are fuelling fears that the ongoing conflict in the region now threatens crucial global shipping lanes, heightening tensions in an already volatile area.
