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Israel says Iran behind drone attack on ship

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said there is clear evidence that Iran was involved in the July 29 drone attack on an Israeli-managed ship.
A ship is pictured off the coast of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, where an Israeli-operated ship was attacked opposite the Iranian coast, April 14, 2021.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said Aug. 1 his government believes the drone attack July 29 on the Mercer Street ship oil tanker was “deliberate, targeted, and a clear violation of international law by Iran. UK assessments have concluded that it is highly likely that Iran attacked the MV Mercer Street in international waters off Oman July 29 using one or more Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Aug. 1, "Upon review of the available information, we are confident that Iran conducted this attack, which killed two innocent people, using one-way explosive (drones), a lethal capability it is increasingly employing throughout the region."

Reacting to the two statements, Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid tweeted, "For the past two days, I spoke with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and also with colleagues around the world on the subject of the Iranian attack. The murderous regime in Iran and the terrorist acts it exports constitutes a global threat. I am pleased that both the US and the UK condemn these terrorist acts."

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