Islamic Militants Claim Japanese Tanker Attack in Strait of Hormuz

摘要

A militant Islamic group has claimed responsibility for a Jul. 28 attack on the M Star oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman, saying the ship was targeted by a suicide bomber (IOD Jul.29,p7). The M Star, chartered by Japanese refiner Cosmo Oil, was carrying 2 million barrels of crude oil from Qatar and Abu Dhabi to Chiba port in Japan when its hull was damaged. Speculation over the cause ranged from a collision with another vessel or a floating mine to a freak wave caused by an earthquake.