Oil Tankers Attacked Off Iraq as Middle East Crisis Worsens

The strikes on the vessels off the coast of Iraq prompted the nation’s oil terminals to suspend operations. The latest developments point to an increase in retaliatory action from Iran, adding to pessimism that the conflict will persist for longer. The UK Maritime Trade Operations said on Thursday that a ship was struck by an unknown projectile just north of Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates, while a spokesperson for the Thai Navy said a cargo vessel was hit on Wednesday. Two oil tankers were hit in Iraqi waters, the latest in a string of attacks on ships in the Persian Gulf that are raising risks to global energy supply from the deepening Middle East war. The strikes on the vessels off the coast of Iraq prompted the ... [2484 chars]