The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Tuesday it was aware of a non-piracy "incident" underway off the coast of Fujairah, part of the United Arab Emirates, which could have involved a hijacking. It was not immediately clear who the perpetrators were and whether this was directed at an Israeli asset.
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The warning notice, based on a third-party source, advised vessels in the area to exercise extreme caution. Later, a chemical tanker in the area reported that it was "no longer under command," using naval lingo to indicate that it could no longer maneuver. It was unclear what the reason was. The UKMTO said a "potential hijack" was underway. According to various media reports, the Singapore-flagged chemical tanker Golden Brilliant is the vessel involved in the incident, and it reportedly hit a naval mine or another explosive device that inflicted severe damage. As a result, it could not continue its voyage.
The United States, Israel and Britain have blamed Tehran for an attack last week on an Israeli-managed tanker off the coast of Oman.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warned Iran on Tuesday that "the days of calmly setting the region ablaze are over." The Israeli leader also visited northern Israel to see up close what the situation looks like on the border, where Iran has been increasing its presence through various Shi'ite proxies.
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