Two oil tankers carrying Iraqi oil products caught fire Wednesday after being struck in Iraqi territorial waters near the country’s southern export terminals, according to Iraqi port officials and multiple media reports.
The vessels, Vishnu, a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker chartered to an Iraqi company, and Zefyros, a Malta-flagged tanker transporting condensate from the Basra Gas Company, were operating near Iraq’s Al-Faw port area close to Basra when the incident occurred.
Iraq’s director general of the General Company for Ports, Farhan al-Fartousi, told CNN that 38 crew members, all of whom were foreign nationals, were rescued from the tankers carrying Iraqi fuel oil.
Iraq’s state oil marketer SOMO told CNN the vessels were attacked “while present in the sideloading area within Iraqi territorial waters.”
Iran claimed responsibility for the attacks via state media, saying an underwater drone attack “blew up two oil tankers in the Persian Gulf tonight.”
Footage circulating on social media shows thick black smoke rising from the tankers as flames spread across the decks and surrounding water.
UPDATE: 2 oil tankers are on fire after being attacked in the Persian Gulf off Iraq, according to Reuters. It’s unclear who carried out the attack. pic.twitter.com/6pHBKn6zcv
— BNO News Live (@BNODesk) March 11, 2026
The tankers could have been carrying up to 400,000 barrels of Iraqi oil and condensate combined, and the attack triggered leaks of fuel into the surrounding waters.
Following the incident, Iraqi authorities temporarily halted operations at the country’s oil export ports, although commercial ports remained open.
The attack comes amid a sharp rise in maritime incidents across the Persian Gulf as tensions escalate between Iran, the United States, and Israel. At least 14 vessels have been struck in recent weeks, with three confirmed strikes on Wednesday as the conflict continues to escalate.
Oil prices continued to rally despite the announcement by the IEA of a record-breaking reserve release.
By Josh Owens for Oilprice.com
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