Iraq halts oil port operations after tanker attacked in territorial waters

2026-03-12 - 09:13

Iraq announced Thursday that it has halted operations at the country's oil ports following an attack on an oil tanker in territorial waters, local media reported, adding to growing concerns about energy infrastructure security amid the expanding regional conflict. Farhan al-Fartousi, Director General of the state-run General Company for Ports of Iraq, said the decision was taken as a temporary precautionary measure until the security situation is assessed and the safety of maritime navigation and oil export facilities is ensured. Tanker attack details Al-Fartousi said an oil tanker was attacked while sailing in Iraqi territorial waters, causing a fire to break out in parts of the vessel before emergency teams managed to contain the situation and prevent further damage. He added that relevant authorities have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances of the attack and identify those responsible, noting that preliminary information indicates the incident did not result in a major oil spill or significant environmental damage. Commercial ports unaffected Operations at commercial ports are continuing as normal, al-Fartousi emphasized, stating that loading and unloading activities at commercial terminals have not been affected by the incident. He added that maritime authorities are enhancing security measures in shipping lanes and ports to ensure the safety of vessels and the continuity of trade operations. Economic significance The suspension of operations at oil ports comes at a time when Iraq relies heavily on its southern ports to export the majority of its oil production to global markets. Observers say any disruption to export operations could impact global oil supplies, particularly amid rising security tensions in the region and growing concerns over the safety of energy shipping routes following Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz and continued retaliatory strikes. Conflict context The attack on the Iraqi tanker comes as the US-Israeli war against Iran, now in its 13th day, continues to escalate. Iran has launched approximately 3,200 missile and UAV attacks targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US assets, while US and Israeli forces have struck over 9,000 targets in Iran, according to Iranian officials. The conflict has severely disrupted regional shipping and energy markets.