News Desk
BASRA: Iraq has suspended operations at its oil ports after a fuel tanker came under attack in the Gulf, although commercial port activities are continuing as normal, officials said.
According to Farhan Al‑Fartousi, head of the General Company for Ports of Iraq, the two tankers had loaded oil from Umm Qasr Port in Basra Province before coming under attack while sailing through regional waters.
Authorities confirmed that one crew member was killed in the incident, while 38 others were successfully rescued during an emergency response operation launched shortly after the attack. Search teams are continuing efforts to locate additional crew members who are still missing.
Officials said the suspension applies specifically to oil port operations as a precautionary measure while security assessments are carried out. However, Iraq’s commercial ports remain operational, and cargo shipments unrelated to oil exports are continuing without disruption.
Maritime authorities have increased security and surveillance around key shipping lanes and port facilities in the area to prevent further incidents. The attack has heightened concerns about the safety of vital energy routes in the region, particularly as tensions across the Middle East continue to rise.
Investigations into the circumstances of the tanker attack are under way, and Iraqi authorities have pledged to review security protocols to ensure the safety of maritime traffic and energy infrastructure in the country’s southern ports.
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