Attacks, incidents heightening Gulf tensions since May

An explosion set ablaze an Iranian oil tanker off the Saudi port city of Jeddah, Iranian state media reported on Friday, adding that experts suspected it was a "terrorist attack".

>>Reuters
Published : 11 Oct 2019, 08:02 AM
Updated : 11 Oct 2019, 08:02 AM

Below is a timeline of incidents in the Gulf region since May:

May 10 - The US Maritime Administration warns of possible Iranian attacks on shipping in the Gulf.

May 12 - Four ships, including two Saudi oil tankers, are attacked in the Gulf just outside the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil shipping route. US officials pin the blame on Iran, a charge Tehran denies.

May 14 - Saudi Arabia said armed Houthi drones struck two oil pumping stations in the kingdom, causing a fire which was contained and minor damage at one pump station, but did not disrupt oil output or exports. Saudi Aramco said it temporarily shut the East-West pipeline, known as Petroline, to evaluate its condition.

May 21 - A Houthi drone struck an arms depot in Saudi Arabia's Najran airport near the Yemeni border, causing a fire. The Saudi-led military coalition said a civilian facility in Najran province was attacked with an explosive-laden drone.

Jun 12 - Houthis drones struck Abha civilian airport in southern Saudi Arabia, wounding 26 people.

Jun 13 - Two tankers are attacked south of Hormuz. Washington again blames Iran and Tehran denies any role.

Jun 19 - The Houthis launched a projectile on June 19 targeting a power transformer station near a desalination plant in Shuqaiq in southern Saudi Arabia. The strike led to a small fire that was quickly doused and did not impact operations.

Jun 20 - Iran shot down an unmanned US surveillance drone.

Jun 23 - The Saudi-led military coalition said the Houthis launched an attack on Abha airport, killing one person and wounding 21 others.

Jul 4 - British Royal Marines seized Iranian supertanker Grace 1 near Gibraltar on July 4 on suspicion of violating European Union sanctions on Syria.

Jul 10 - British warship HMS Montrose on July 10 issued verbal warnings and aimed guns at boats believed to belong to Iranian Revolutionary Guards which approached BP (BP.L) oil tanker British Heritage at the northern entrance of Hormuz.

Jul 18 - The United States said USS Boxer destroyed an Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz after it threatened the US Navy ship. Iran denied it has lost a drone.

Jul 19 - Iran seized British-operated oil tankers Stena Impero and Mesdar, the latter released after receiving a warning from Iranian authorities.

Aug 15 - Gibraltar freed the Grace 1, renamed the Adrian Darya 1, on Aug 15 after receiving assurances from Tehran that the ship would not discharge its oil in Syria. On Sept 8 Iran said it unloaded its cargo somewhere on the Mediterranean coast. On Sep 11 Iran said the vessel had been sold at sea to a private company and denied Tehran had broken the assurances.

Sep 14 - The Houthis claim responsibility for Sept 14 drone attacks on Saudi Aramco plants in Abqaiq and Khurais. The plants lie in the heartland of Saudi Arabia's oil industry, including the world's biggest petroleum processing facility.