Iran claims strike on Israeli-linked oil tanker in Gulf waters

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard announced on Wednesday that it had targeted an oil tanker in the Gulf, claiming the vessel was linked to Israel.

In a statement carried by Iranian state television, the Guard said that an oil tanker named “Aqua 1”, which it described as belonging to the Israeli entity, was struck in what it called a “precise missile operation” carried out by its naval forces, adding that the vessel was set ablaze.

Qatar had earlier stated that the tanker was hit within its territorial waters, raising concerns over the expansion of hostilities into sensitive maritime zones in the Gulf.

Meanwhile, the United States has intensified its military posture, deploying 12 A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft to Britain and increasing aerial refuelling operations across Europe.

According to open-source intelligence tracking, multiple Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft conducted coordinated flights from bases in the United Kingdom and Romania on 31st March. Additional refuelling aircraft departed from RAF Mildenhall, carrying out missions over southwest England before returning to base.

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Aircraft movements also included a KC-135 Stratotanker (registration 60-0333) and a Lockheed Martin MC-130J Commando II (09-6207), which were observed operating from the same base.

In Romania, several refuelling aircraft were seen departing from Henri Coandă International Airport near Bucharest and heading toward southern Greece.

Further movements included multiple US refuelling aircraft traveling from the United States toward the Middle East, with some reportedly landing in Israel and others continuing toward the region.

The developments come amid escalating tensions following the ongoing war between Israel, the United States, and Iran, with military activity increasingly extending across regional and international theatres.

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