STORY: Iranian explosive-laden boats appear to have attacked two fuel tankers in Iraqi waters setting them ablaze and killing one crew member on Wednesday (March 11), after projectiles struck three vessels in Gulf waters, said port, maritime security and risk firms.

Video from the Iraqi Ports media office showed at least one tanker on fire with plumes of smoke rising into the night sky, and crews being rescued.

The ships targeted in late-night armed boat attacks in the Gulf near Iraq were the Marshall Islands-flagged Safesea Vishnu and the Malta-flagged Zefyros, which had loaded fuel cargoes in Iraq, two Iraqi port officials said.

Reuters confirmed that one of the ships seen in the videos is tanker Zefyros by the shape and characteristics which matched file imagery of the vessel. The exact time when the videos were filmed could not be verified but no older version of the footage was found posted online before March 12. Vessel tracking data puts the location of the tankers Zefyros and Safesea Vishnu in Iraqi territorial waters on March 12, 2026. Iraqi News Agency cited a statement from the State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO) confirming the tankers Safesea Vishnu and Zefyros were hit while they were present in the ship-to-ship loading area within Iraqi territorial waters. Reuters confirmed with two Iraqi port officials on names of vessels.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: TANKER ON FIRE AT SEA / RESCUED CREW ARRIVING ON IRAQI VESSEL / RESCUED CREW INSIDE VESSEL

VERIFICATION:

- Identity of one tanker confirmed as Zefyros by shape which matched file imagery of the ship

- Exact date not verified but no older version of the footage was found posted online before March 12

- Vessel tracking data puts the location of the tankers Zefyros and Safesea Vishnu in Iraqi territorial waters on March 12, 2026

- Iraqi News Agency cited a statement from the State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO) confirming the tankers Safesea Vishnu and Zefyros were hit while they were present in the ship-to-ship loading area within Iraqi territorial waters.

- Reuters confirmed with two Iraqi port officials on names of vessels

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: AT SEA, NEAR AL FAW PORT OF BASRA, IRAQ (RELEASED MARCH 12, 2026) (MEDIA OFFICE OF IRAQI PORTS - Access all) (NIGHT SHOTS)

1. (ORIGINALLY SHOT IN PORTRAIT) TANKER ON FIRE, PLUMES OF SMOKE AND FLAMES RISING

2. (ORIGINALLY SHOT IN PORTRAIT) FIRE IN THE DISTANCE, TANKER ON FIRE AS SEEN FROM ANOTHER VESSEL, THICK CLOUDS OF SMOKE

3. (ORIGINALLY SHOT IN PORTRAIT) VIEW FROM SHIP BALCONY OF IRAQI PORT RESCUE TEAMS HELPING TANKER CREW MEMBERS DISEMBARK RESCUE BOATS / PERSON FILMING TURNING CAMERA TOWARDS BURNING TANKER

4. (ORIGINALLY SHOT IN PORTRAIT) BURNING TANKER

5. SECURITY CAMERA SHOT OF BURNING TANKER

6. (ORIGINALLY SHOT IN PORTRAIT) RESCUE TEAM HELPING TANKER CREW MEMBERS DISEMBARK FROM RESCUE BOAT

7. (ORIGINALLY SHOT IN PORTRAIT) TANKER CREW MEMBERS ENTERING CABIN

8. (ORIGINALLY SHOT IN PORTRAIT) RESCUE TEAM HELPING TANKER CREW MEMBER DISEMBARK FROM RESCUE BOAT

9. (ORIGINALLY SHOT IN PORTRAIT) RESCUE TEAMS TENDING TO TANKER CREW MEMBERS INSIDE CABIN