{"id":142220,"date":"2026-06-02T15:41:18","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T15:41:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/142220\/"},"modified":"2026-06-02T15:41:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T15:41:18","slug":"msc-confirms-containership-was-hit-twice-by-projectiles-off-iraq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/142220\/","title":{"rendered":"MSC Confirms Containership Was Hit Twice by Projectiles Off Iraq"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) says its containership\u00a0MSC Sariska V\u00a0was struck by two projectiles while departing Iraq\u2019s Port of Umm Qasr on Sunday, confirming one of the most serious attacks on a commercial vessel in the northern Persian Gulf since the outbreak of the U.S.-Iran conflict.<\/p>\n

In a statement issued Monday, MSC said the Panama-flagged vessel was hit shortly after leaving port.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first hit while the pilot was onboard as the vessel departed from port and a second impacted the crew area soon afterwards,\u201d the company said.<\/p>\n

MSC said all crew members were unharmed and credited the vessel\u2019s seafarers with responding professionally to secure the ship and its cargo following the attack.<\/p>\n

The company also addressed reports that Iran\u2019s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) had claimed responsibility, reportedly linking the attack to recent U.S. actions involving the Iranian vessel\u00a0Lion Star, <\/p>\n

\u201cThis retaliatory action is completely unjustified,\u201d MSC said, emphasizing that it is a neutral commercial carrier with no affiliation to either the United States or Israel. The company noted it is headquartered in Switzerland and owned by the family of founder Gianluigi Aponte.<\/p>\n

The confirmation follows a series of advisories issued Sunday by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which reported that a cargo vessel approximately 40 nautical miles southeast of Umm Qasr had been struck by an unknown projectile, causing a large explosion. A subsequent update reported a second impact and a fire that was later extinguished.<\/p>\n

Video circulating on social media showed extensive damage to the starboard side of the vessel above the waterline.<\/p>\n

Maritime analyst Sal Mercogliano noted that MSC Sariska V has effectively been trapped inside the Persian Gulf since the conflict began on February 28 and has been operating as part of a regional feeder network established by MSC after deep-sea services into the Gulf were disrupted.<\/p>\n

The location and nature of the damage have fueled speculation about the weapon used. Security analysts have suggested the visible impact pattern appears inconsistent with a mine strike and may instead point to an uncrewed surface vessel (USV) attack, similar to incidents reported elsewhere in the northern Gulf during the conflict.<\/p>\n

Martin Kelly, head of advisory at EOS Risk Group, previously assessed that the vessel was likely struck in Iraqi territorial waters after completing cargo operations at Umm Qasr.<\/p>\n

The attack marks at least the third reported incident involving commercial shipping in Iraqi and northern Gulf waters since March.<\/p>\n

On March 4, a tanker anchored southeast of Kuwait reported an explosion alongside the sighting of a small craft departing the area. A week later, UKMTO reported two tankers struck by unknown projectiles south of Al Basrah, triggering fires aboard both vessels and forcing the evacuation of their crews.<\/p>\n

MSC said it remains \u201cdeeply concerned by these unprovoked attacks and the risk they create for its innocent seafarers, and essential maritime trade in the region.\u201d<\/p>\n

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