Updates from Israel: Iranian Fuel Tanker Attack Blamed On Israel, Fresh Clashes In Jerusalem, More Rockets From Gaza

Iranian fuel tanker attacked by drone, Israel suspected

SETH J. FRANTZMAN

An Iranian tanker was reportedly attacked off the Syrian coast on Saturday, according to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. It was unclear what had happened, as Iran media was slow to report details. However, the Syrian state media did quote an oil ministry member as saying a fire took place on “what was believed to be an attack by a drone.” 

Iran's Arabic-language al-Alam TV said there was some damage to an Iranian tanker but no casualties. But Iran's Tasnim news agency, quoting "certain sources," said: "The accident happened to another vessel...and is not linked to a ship carrying Iranian cargo."

The pro-Damascus al-Mayadeen TV said the tanker was suspected to have been hit by an Israeli drone. The Israeli military declined to comment on the incident.

Iran's Military Blames Israel For Drone Attack On Oil Tanker Off Syria, Vows Revenge

TYLER DURDEN

The blaze aboard an oil tanker near Syria's Banias refinery has been extinguished Sunday following a suspected drone attack which was widely reported as coming "from the direction of Lebanese waters" - in the words of Syria's oil ministry. The Guardian is citing regional sources to say at least three among the crew were killed. 

While the tanker was first identified as Iranian, TankerTrackers said in a tweet that "the tanker seen burning today off the coast of Banias is not an Iranian vessel" but Beirut-registered. Iranian state media had also denied that it was Iranian ship. However, the vessel identified as the Beirut-registered "Wisdom" supertanker appears to have been assisting in the offloading of Iranian oil. 

This has led to widespread immediate speculation that it was another Israeli attack meant to disrupt Iran's ability to export oil, especially to its fuel-starved and sanctions-hit ally Syria.

On Sunday Israeli media is featuring quotes from Iran's military leadership saying Israel was behind the tanker attack:

Iran’s Armed Forces chief Mohammad Bagheri on Sunday threatened to "teach Israel a very good lesson," appearing to hint the Jewish state was behind a reported attack on an Iranian tanker off Syria’s coast over the weekend, but stopping short of blaming Jerusalem directly for the incident.

Bagheri told reporters: "We don’t announce anything about the incidents that happened recently, nor do we know who did it, but the Resistance Front will teach Israel a very good lesson," according to several Iranian journalists.

"Israelis think they can keep hitting Syria and making mischievous moves elsewhere and in the seas and not receive any response," Bagheri said further according to The Times of Israel.

Fresh clashes between Israeli forces, Palestinians in Jerusalem and West Bank

TOI STAFF and AGENCIES

Fresh scuffles between Israeli police and Palestinians broke out at Damascus Gate in Jerusalem’s Old City on Saturday night, following week-long tensions and renewed rocket fire from the Gaza Strip toward southern Israel.

The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that six Palestinians required medical care, including one taken to hospital for treatment. It did not specify how they were injured.

Unrest was reported in a number of different areas. Near the Qalandiya crossing between Jerusalem and Ramallah, a spokesperson for the Border Police said forces were “dealing with about a hundred rioters brandishing firebombs, stones, and fireworks” and responding with riot dispersal means.

Police said Sunday morning that 17 suspects had been arrested overnight over alleged assaults on officers, rock-throwing, Molotov cocktail-throwing and more.

Police’s Jerusalem District chief, Doron Turgeman, told the Kan public broadcaster on Sunday morning that the number of detainees since the unrest began has reached 157, including 54 arrested for suspected attacks with a “racist motive.” Turgeman told Army Radio that most alleged offenders arrested are Muslim.

Hundreds of Palestinians also marched toward Israeli checkpoints across the West Bank in solidarity with East Jerusalem Palestinians, leading to confrontations. According to reports in the Palestinian media, Palestinians hurled stones and burned garbage cans close to Jenin’s Jalameh checkpoint during the protest. Palestinians also demonstrated close to Nablus’s Huwarra checkpoint and Hebron’s Bab al-Zawiyeh, which borders a crossing within the city administered by the Israeli military.

There have been nightly disturbances in Jerusalem since the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on April 13, amid Palestinian anger over police blocking off access to the promenade around the walls of the Old City and a ban on gatherings. In an unofficial Jerusalem tradition, thousands of Palestinians sit in the area following nighttime prayers during Ramadan.

Rockets fired from Gaza for 3rd night in a row; no injuries or damage

TOI STAFF

Terrorists in Gaza fired rockets into Israel for the third night in a row on Sunday.

A first projectile was detected by the Israel Defense Forces, which said it only set off red alert sires in an open area where it evidently fell. A second rocket landed inside Gaza near the security fence.

The launches came hours after the Gaza-ruling Hamas issued a statement calling on “our noble resistance in Gaza to keep their fingers on the trigger, to keep their rockets on standby to target the enemy’s fortresses and military and vital structures.”

Just after midnight Sunday, the Israeli military announced that it would be restricting the fishing zone off the Gaza coast from 15 to 9 nautical miles, starting at 06:00 Monday until further notice.

“The decision was made in light of repeated terrorist acts from the Gaza Strip against the citizens of the State of Israel during the recent days, which constitute a violation of  Israeli sovereignty,” said a statement from the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, which is the branch of the Defense Ministry responsible for liaising with the Palestinians.