MANILA — Twelve Filipino sailors have been safely rescued after their oil tanker was attacked near Basra, Iraq, earlier this month, according to the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad.
The vessel, Safesea Vishnu, flying the Marshall Islands flag, was reportedly targeted by what authorities suspect was an Iranian “suicide boat,” killing one Indian crew member in the assault.
The embassy confirmed the Filipino crew are currently in Basra Governorate, southern Iraq. “Iraqi authorities successfully rescued the seafarers on March 12 and immediately provided medical assistance,” the embassy said.
Working closely with both the Iraqi government and the shipping firm, the embassy is now facilitating the paperwork needed for the crew’s return to the Philippines. The seafarers have received both medical and welfare support.
This attack coincides with intensifying hostilities in the Middle East, where Tehran has issued threats against ships attempting passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
elamigo/xf
