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BAGHDAD (AP) – The Iraqi military said on Saturday that explosives experts and its naval forces had successfully dismantled a mine that was discovered stuck to an oil tanker in the Persian Gulf.
The statement said Iraqi authorities have opened an investigation into the incident. No group has claimed responsibility for setting up the mine.
The announcement came a day after Iraq confirmed reports from private security companies that a mine had been discovered attached to the side of an oil tanker leased from the Iraqi oil marketing company, known as SOMO, while refueling another ship. He said Iraqi teams were working on dismantling the mine.
Iraq did not provide more details, but the two private security companies said the find was likely a limpet mine on the MT Pola, a Liberian-flagged tanker.
A limpet mine is a type of naval mine that attaches to the side of a ship, usually by a special forces diver. It later explodes and can seriously damage a ship.
The discovery came amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States in the closing days of President Donald Trump’s administration.
America has already flown B-52 bombers and sent a nuclear submarine to the Persian Gulf over what Trump officials describe as the possibility of an Iranian attack on the first anniversary of the US drone strike. near Baghdad which killed a senior Iranian general and an Iraqi militia leader.
Iraq marks the anniversary with a series of events this week, including a ceremony at Baghdad airport on Saturday night, where the drone attack that killed the two men occurred a year ago.
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