Turkish-operated tanker hit by drone attack in Black Sea near Istanbul

2026-03-26 - 07:49

A foreign-flagged, Turkish-operated crude oil tanker was targeted on Thursday in a drone attack in the Black Sea near Istanbul, Türkiye's transport minister said, adding that no casualties were reported among the crew. The vessel, carrying crude oil, was struck, with the engine room as the apparent target, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said during a live broadcast on 24TV. Crew safe The minister noted that there were 27 Turkish crew members on board at the time of the incident, all of whom were reported safe. He added that relevant elements were directed to the scene, and the situation continues to be closely monitored. Unclear responsibility No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. The incident raises concerns about the security of maritime traffic in the Black Sea, a critical route for energy and grain shipments. Regional context The attack comes amid heightened regional tensions following the US-Israeli war with Iran, now in its fifth week, which has seen strikes across the Middle East and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. However, the Black Sea incident represents a geographic expansion of potential targets. Türkiye has maintained a policy of de-escalation in the conflict, with President Erdoğan advocating for a return to diplomacy while taking defensive measures against airspace violations.