ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iraq on Thursday condemned as a “blatant violation of sovereignty” the targeting of two oil tankers within its territorial waters, which left at least one crew member dead.

Two Marshall Islands and Malta-flagged tankers were targeted within Iraqi territorial waters overnight. One crew member was killed, and 38 others were rescued by Iraqi authorities, according to state media. 

It did not specify their nationalities or provide details about the attack. 

Farhan al-Fartousi, head of the state-owned General Company for Iraqi Ports, told state media that the attack occurred around 50 kilometers from the coast. 

Saad Maan, head of Iraq’s Security Media Cell, told state media that “Iraq reserves its right to take legal action” in response to the attack, stressing that it was a “cowardly act of sabotage.” 

He called it a “blatant violation of Iraqi sovereignty.” 

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) later on Thursday confirmed that they had targeted the Marshall Islands-flagged ship, claiming it was “US-owned” and was struck after ignoring repeated warnings and alerts. 

In a statement, the Iraqi oil ministry stressed that “the safety of navigation in international maritime corridors and energy supply routes must remain free from regional conflicts.” 

The targeting comes as Iran continues to disrupt global energy markets, most notably in the Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the world’s oil flows through. 

The attack came hours after the US Embassy in Baghdad warned of attacks on US-owned oil infrastructure in Iraq.