CRITICALMILITARY
Iranian explosive boats attack two Iraqi fuel tankers — 1 killed, Iraq oil ports shut down
·Iraqi oil ports / Persian Gulf
Two foreign tankers carrying Iraqi fuel oil attacked by Iranian boats laden with explosives. One crew member killed, 38 rescued, search for missing ongoing. Iraq's oil ports have 'completely stopped operations' — commercial ports continue. Marks Iranian escalation to targeting Iraqi oil exports directly.
Iranian boats laden with explosives attacked two foreign tankers carrying Iraqi fuel oil in the Persian Gulf, causing both vessels to catch fire. Farhan Al-Fartousi, head of Iraq's General Company for Ports, confirmed one crew member was killed and 38 were rescued, with search for missing continuing. Al-Fartousi stated that Iraq's oil ports have 'completely stopped operations' while commercial ports continue to operate. This attack represents a significant escalation — Iran is now directly targeting Iraqi oil exports, not just Strait of Hormuz shipping. The shutdown of Iraqi oil ports compounds the existing energy supply crisis caused by Hormuz disruption and earlier attacks on Gulf state infrastructure.
Actor responses
IRGC-aligned forces used explosive boats to attack Iraqi fuel tankers in Basra port waters, killing one worker and forcing Iraq to shut all oil terminals.
US monitoring Iranian attacks on Iraqi oil infrastructure as part of broader pattern of economic warfare targeting energy markets.