U.S. Navy says drone strike hit oil tanker Mercer Street off Oman, killing two

The strike on the oil tanker marks the first-known fatal attack after years of assaults on commercial shipping in the region linked to tensions with Iran over its tattered nuclear deal.

U.S. Navy explosive experts believe a “drone strike” targetted an oil tanker that came under attack off the coast of Oman in the Arabian Sea, killing two on board, the American military said on Saturday. The strike on Thursday night on the oil tanker Mercer Street marks the first-known fatal attack after years of assaults on commercial shipping in the region linked to tensions with Iran over its tattered nuclear deal. While no one has claimed responsibility for the attack, Israeli officials alleged Tehran launched the drone strike. While Iran did not directly acknowledge the attack, the strike comes as Tehran now appears poised to take an even tougher approach with the West as the country prepares to inaugurate a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as president.