Video from the attack against a Greek-owned tanker in the Gulf of Oman

Video footage of the attempted seizure of two commercial tankers in the Gulf of Oman has been released by the US Navy.

The footage shows the Iranian Navy ship firing at the Greek-owned Richmond Voyager.

Both tanker attacks took place in the Gulf, in international waters between Iran and Oman.

US Navy intervention

The US Navy announced today that it intervened to prevent an attempted seizure by the Iranian Navy of two commercial tankers sailing in international waters in the Gulf of Oman.

“An Iranian Navy vessel opened fire during the second capture attempt,” US Navy 5th Fleet spokesman Timothy Hawkins said.

Earlier today, the UK Maritime and Commercial Operations (UKMTO) said shots had been fired at a tanker in the Gulf, which was approached by security forces from a country the British authority did not name.

According to reports, the Iranian vessel left the scene of the incident when the guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul (DDG 74) of the US Navy arrived there. In addition, the US Navy developed surveillance assets, including the MQ-9 Reaper and P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.

Crew safe

The vessel and its crew are safe after the incident in territorial waters between Iran and Oman, off the coast of Oman’s capital Muscat, according to UKMTO.

The Richmond Voyager, a very large crude carrier operated by Chevron, was previously docked at Ras Tanura in eastern Saudi Arabia.