Footage released on Thursday (March 12) appeared to show the moment Iran attacked a fuel tanker in Iraqi waters.

Reuters verified the vessel seen in the video from file imagery and Reuters footage. Reuters verified a separate video on Thursday (edit: 3193-IRAN-CRISIS/IRAQ-TANKERS) showing two damaged vessels in the same position as the vessels in this video. The exact date when the video was recorded could not be verified independently, but Reuters footage recorded on Thursday shows the same vessel. No older versions of the video were found posted online before Thursday.

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.

Vessel tracking data puts the location of the tankers Zefyros and Safesea Vishnu in Iraqi territorial waters on Thursday.

At least 16 tankers and other vessels have come under attack in the Gulf during the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran while hundreds more have dropped anchor due to Tehran's threat to attack nearby shipping lanes.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: AT SEA, NEAR PORT OF BASRA & BASRA, IRAQ (RELEASED MARCH 12, 2026) (IRIB - No use Iran, BBC Persian. No use VOA Persian. No use Manoto. No use Iran International. No use Radio Farda)

1. EXPLOSION HITTING TANKER, SOUND OF EXPLOSIONS

2. VARIOUS OF TANKER IN FLAMES