Iranian Proxies Launch First-Ever Suicide Attack Inside Iraqi Territory
War hits Iraqi waters: The tanker Sonangol Namibe has been breached by an Iranian-style suicide drone boat near Basra. This first-of-its-kind strike in Iraq's economic zone is redrawing the naval front lines of the Middle East conflict.
According to reports from Al-Hadath and Reuters, the Bahamas-flagged tanker Sonangol Namibe was targeted early Thursday morning while waiting near Iraq’s Khor al-Zubair port.
The vessel was approached at approximately 01:20 local time by an unidentified small craft. Iraqi port security sources provided an initial assessment indicating that the small boat was a remote-controlled "suicide" vessel packed with explosives.
A loud explosion was reported on the tanker's port side.
The ship’s operator, Sonangol Marine Services, confirmed a hull breach in a port ballast tank. Despite taking on water, the ship remains stable and is not currently in danger of sinking.
Fortunately, the tanker was not carrying cargo at the time of the blast, preventing a significant environmental disaster in the northern Gulf.
Why This Matters: Breaking the "Iraqi Safe Zone"
Until today, the northern reaches of the Persian Gulf, specifically Iraqi territorial waters. were considered a relatively safe haven compared to the volatile Strait of Hormuz.