WASHINGTON – Israel is targeting at least a dozen ships bound for Syria and mainly transporting Iranian oil for fear that oil profits are financing extremism in the Middle East, say American and regional officials, on a new front in the conflict between Israel and Iran.
Since the end of 2019, Israel has been using weapons, including water mines, to attack Iranian ships or those carrying Iranian cargo while sailing towards Syria in the Red Sea and other areas in the region. Iran continued its oil trade with Syria, sending millions of barrels and violating US sanctions against Iran and international sanctions against Syria.
Some of the naval attacks have also targeted Iranian efforts to move other cargo, including armaments, through the region, according to American officials.
The attacks on tankers carrying Iranian oil have not been previously reported. Iranian officials have reported some of the attacks earlier and said they suspected Israel’s involvement.
Israel has not previously commented on such incidents and the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has forwarded questions to the Israeli military, who declined to comment on any Israeli role in the attacks on Iranian ships. Iranian officials at the United Nations mission to the country have not responded to a request for comment.