BAGHDAD (AP) – The Iraqi military said on Saturday that explosives experts and its naval forces have successfully dismantled a mine tied to an oil tanker in the Persian Gulf.
Iraqi authorities have opened an investigation into the incident, according to the statement. No group has claimed responsibility for installing the mine.
The announcement came a day after Iraqi reports from private security firms confirmed that a mine had been discovered attached to the side of a tanker leased from Iraqi Oil Marketing Company, known as SOMO, while it attached another ship to it. refueling was. It said Iraqi teams were in the process of dismantling the mine.
Iraq has not provided further details, but the two private security firms said the discovery was likely a sea slug mine on the MT Pola, a Liberian-flagged tanker.
A sea snail mine is a type of naval mine attached to the side of a ship, usually by a diver member of special forces. It later explodes and can significantly damage a ship.
The discovery came amid heightened tensions between Iran and the US in the last days of President Donald Trump’s administration.
America has already carried out B-52 bomber flyovers and sent a nuclear submarine into the Persian Gulf on what Trump officials describe as the possibility of an Iranian attack on the one-year anniversary of the US drones attack near Baghdad involving an Iranian top- general perished. and a prominent leader of the Iraqi militia.
Iraq is celebrating the anniversary this week with a series of events, including a ceremony at Baghdad airport Saturday night, where the drone strike that killed the two men took place a year ago.