Two oil tankers came under attack on Thursday in the Gulf of Oman amidst the heightened tensions in the region and similar attacks in the recent months, according to local and international media outlets,
The news reports which were based on the shipping sources said that two tankers have sustained damage in suspected attacks while 44 personnel were evacuated from the tankers.
"Iranian search and rescue teams have picked up 44 sailors from two damaged oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman," the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported, citing an unnamed informed source, adding that the sailors were taken to the Iranian port of Jask.
The U.S. navy ships is in the area and is rendering assistance, according to the statement released by the U.S. 5th Fleet.
"We are aware of the reported attack on shipping vessels in the Gulf of Oman. U.S. Naval Forces in the region received two separate distress calls at 6:12 a.m. local (Bahrain) time and a second one at 7:00 a.m. U.S. Navy ships are in the area and are rendering assistance," the statement said.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations also announced that it is aware of an incident in the region. "UK and its partners are currently investigating," it said.
One of the attacked tankers, M. T. Front Altair, was on fire, and the crew had abandoned ship and been rescued, the media outlets reported, while the contact is lost with the second ship, the Panamanian-flagged Kokuka Courageous.
By Ebru Sengul
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr