page_title: May 2019 Gulf of Oman incident
section_title: Investigation
hierarchical_section_title: May 2019 Gulf of Oman incident / Investigation
caption_attribution_description: English: Joint statement by Norway, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations Security Council on the attack on commercial ships off the coast of Fujairah in the Gulf of Oman.
context_page_description: On 12 May 2019, four commercial ships were damaged off Fujairah's coast in the Gulf of Oman. The ships included two Saudi Arabian registered oil tankers, a Norwegian registered oil tanker, and an Emirati registered bunkering ship. The ships were anchored on the United Arab Emirates territorial waters for bunkering in Port of Fujairah. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates reported that the ships had been subject to a "sabotage attack". The United Arab Emirates launched a joint investigation probe with United States and France. The initial investigation assessment determined that 5-to-10-foot holes near or below all the ships' waterlines were probably caused by explosive charges.
  The incident occurred amid increasing tension between the United States and Iran in the Persian Gulf region, leading U.S. officials to suspect Iran of being behind the attack. The United Arab Emirates government did not accuse any perpetrators, stating that the report of the investigation probe must first be finalized. The government of Iran called for an international investigation of the incident, describing it as a possible false flag operation.
context_section_description: The UAE requested assistance from the US in launching an investigation probe to determine the cause of the damage. The assessment determined that 5-to-10-foot (1.5 to 3.0 m) holes near or below all the ships water line were likely caused by explosive charges. The US military team that assessed the blasts initial investigation blamed Iran or Iranian-backed proxies of causing the attack. The US issued new warnings to commercial ship of acts of sabotage targeting ships in the Middle East.
  The UAE reiterated that the incident would be investigated "in cooperation with local and international bodies". The incident occurred at a time when tensions between the U.S. and Iran had increased in the Middle East. The Pentagon dispatched an aircraft carrier, a Patriot missile battery and a squadron of B-52 bombers to the region. France, Norway, and Saudi Arabia also joined in investigating the cause of the damage. The UAE stated that the joint probe into tanker attack will ensure impartiality.
  The Norwegian insurer report on the incident concluded that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are “highly likely” to have facilitated the attacks.
  The United States Admiral Michael Gilday, the director of the Joint Staff, has announced that the United States intelligence has concluded that Iran's revolutionary Guard Corps to be "directly responsible" for the attacks. Gilday stated "We believe with a high degree of confidence that this stems back to the leadership of Iran at the highest levels and that all of the attacks that I mentioned have been attributed to Iran through their proxies or their forces."
  An international investigation probe, led by the United Arab Emirates, was conducted on the incident. The initial findings of the international investigation submitted to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) by the UAE permanent mission to the United Nations in a joint statement with Saudi Arabia and Norway on 6 June 2019 stated "strong indications that the four attacks were part of a sophisticated and coordinated operation carried out with significant operational capacity." According to the investigation, the attacks were carried out by several teams of operatives with a high level of precision. The investigation assessed the damage to the four vessels and conducted a chemical analysis of the debris, concluding it was "highly likely" that limpet mines were used in the attack. According to the statement, “It appears most likely that the mines were placed on the vessels by divers deployed from fast boats.” Analysis was made based on available radar data and the short time the vessels were at anchor before the attack. The investigation determined that the mines were designed to damage the ships without sinking them or detonating their cargoes. According to the statement submitted to the UN Security Council, “The four attacks were part of a sophisticated and co-ordinated operation carried out by an actor with significant operational capacity, most likely a state actor.” The statement did not name any suspected perpetrator.
caption: Joint press statement by Norway, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations Security Council on 6 June 2019 regarding the findings of the investigation.
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