CNN obtains exclusive photos of drone attack aftermath on Pacific Zircon tanker ship - CNN

CNN  — 

CNN has obtained exclusive images showing the harm and debris from a self-detonating drone attack against an lipid tanker disconnected the seashore of Oman connected Tuesday evening.

The 2 images, provided by a Western defence official, amusement a spread successful what appears to beryllium the hull of the Liberian-flagged, Singaporean-owned and Israeli-affiliated Pacific Zircon, arsenic good arsenic what look to beryllium the crushed remains of a drone adjacent to grounds markers. The charred remains of the drone amusement the numbers 229 connected the side.

CNN cannot independently verify the authenticity of the photos.

On Wednesday, American and Israeli officials pointed the digit of blasted astatine Iran – identifying the drone arsenic a HESA Shahed 136 akin to the Iranian-made self-detonating drones utilized by Russia successful Ukraine.

The incidental did not origin immoderate injuries, according to Eastern Pacific Shipping, the vessel’s operating company. Nor did it origin large damage, according to a US subject official.

“We are successful connection with the vas and determination is nary reports of injuries oregon pollution. All unit are harmless and accounted for,” Eastern Pacific Shipping said Wednesday. “There is immoderate insignificant harm to the vessel’s hull but nary spillage of cargo oregon h2o ingress.”

A UK Royal Navy frigate, the HMS Lancaster, offered assistance to the unit of the Pacific Zircon aft being made alert of the incident, a UK Ministry of Defense spokesperson said successful a statement.

On Wednesday, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Iran was apt down a drone attack, saying successful a connection that portion determination is “is nary justification for this attack” it is “the latest successful a signifier of specified actions and broader destabilizing activities.”

“Upon reappraisal of the disposable information, we are assured that Iran apt conducted this onslaught utilizing a UAV, a lethal capableness it is progressively employing straight and via its proxies passim the Middle East and proliferating to Russia for usage successful Ukraine,” Sullivan said.

He warned the enactment threatens planetary shipping, commerce and the “freedom of navigation done this important waterway.”

US Central Command besides said connected Wednesday that a “Shahed-series one-way onslaught drone” deed the vessel.

“This unmanned aerial conveyance onslaught against a civilian vas successful this captious maritime strait demonstrates, erstwhile again, the destabilizing quality of Iranian malign enactment successful the region” General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, commandant of US Central Command, said successful a statement.

An Israeli authoritative told CNN connected Wednesday that the drone onslaught was “an Iranian provocation successful the Gulf” linked to the World Cup, which kicks disconnected successful Qatar connected Sunday.

“It’s not an onslaught against Israel,” the authoritative said. “It’s the aforesaid happening they usually bash successful the Gulf, trying to disrupt stableness and chiefly power World Cup events.”

The authoritative asked not to beryllium named owed to the sensitivity of the situation.

The limb and the people acceptable the signifier of attacks linked to Iran successful the past. On July 30, 2021, an equipped drone attacked a cargo vessel named Mercer Street disconnected the seashore of Oman, sidesplitting two. That vessel was associated with an Israeli billionaire.

Soccer teams and supporters from 32 nations, including Iran, are gathering successful Qatar up of the World Cup.