Tanker stormed by ‘masked men in military uniforms’ near Iran as UK poised to launch airstrikes on Tehran-backed Houthis

MASKED men in military uniforms have stormed an oil tanker off the coasts of Iran and Oman.

Sailing under a Greek flag, the St Nikolas ship was boarded some 50 miles off the coast of Oman as tensions hit boiling point in the Middle East.

It comes as British and US warships are poised to blitz Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

And the latest sea clash is some 24 hours after 18 drones and missiles were shot down in the Red Sea.

Royal Navy destroyer HMS Diamond and American warships launched a coordinated blitz after the Houthis’ biggest attack so far on one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes on Tuesday night.

Britain’s ambassador to the UN vowed the UK will not “stand by” and let the Iran-backed rebels attack the Red Sea.

Ambassador Dame Barbara Woodward said “all diplomatic means possible” were being used to stop the drone and missile strikes, with military action having not been ruled out.

The whole region has been boiling with tensions for months as the ripples from Israel’s war in Gaza are felt across the world – with Iran suspected of stoking the chaos.

UKMTO, which provides warnings to sailors in the Middle East, said the St Nikolas vessel was stormed by a group of four or five people.

The armed intruders were reported to be wearing military style black uniforms and black masks.

The incident took place in the early hours of Thursday some 50 miles off the coast of Oman, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.

The same vessel was once involved a dispute with the US Justice Department that saw a million barrels of Iranian crude oil seized, Sky News reports.

The Greek shipping company – Empire Navigation – pleaded guilty last year to smuggling Iranian oil in breach of sanctions and agreed to pay a $2.4 million fine.

UKTMO also reported hearing “unknown voices over the phone” alongside the ship’s captain after getting a report from the ship’s security manager.

The United States Navy’s Fifth Fleet did not immediately respond to a request for comment or further information.

It said it was unable to make further contact with the vessel and that the authorities were investigating the incident.

Yemen‘s Iran-backed Houthis have vowed to show support for Hamas following the outbreak of its war with Israel.

On November 19, the Houthis promised to target vessels they believe are heading to and from Israel.

The Houthis attacks have been concentrated on the Bab al-Mandab Strait, to the southwest of the Arabian Peninsula, while Thursday’s incident is located closer to the Strait of Hormuz.

Following their slogan of “Death to America, Death to Israel, curse the Jews and victory to Islam,” Houthi attacks have been disrupting global supply routes in the Red Sea and creating havoc in the region.

Britain is now on the brink of blasting bases in Yemen following the Houthis’ Tuesday night attack on HMS Diamond.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps warned the military might was in place “to do what needs to be done”.

Asked if Britain would launch strikes on Yemen, he responded: “Watch this space”.

It came hours after HMS Diamond unleashed a devastating barrage of Sea Viper missiles and anti-aircraft cannon to defend itself and nearby ships in the Red Sea.

Shapps said the Type 45 destroyer, with 260 crew, appeared to have been targeted in strikes on Tuesday night but the drones and missiles were downed with “no injuries or damage sustained to HMS Diamond or her crew”.

He vowed the Houthi rebels would face “consequences” for launching their largest ever attack on shipping with 18 kamikaze drones, two anti-ship cruise missiles and a ballistic anti-ship missile on Tuesday night.

He also vowed to lobby the Treasury to ramp up spending on defence to 2.5 per cent of GDP.

He said: “We’re living in much more dangerous times.”

Iran is thought to have radars on its merchant ship MV Behshad to track vessels in the region and pass the intel to Houthis.

Shapps said there was no doubt that Iran was the “eyes and ears” of the rebels.

He told The Sun: “Iran are helping to guide these attacks. That is certainly the case.

“We are being very clear with Tehran that this is not acceptable.”

But he signalled any UK strikes would target Houthis in Yemen.

Asked if Britain would strike Iran, he said: “Our concern is directly with where these attacks are coming from.

“That is the Houthis who are, as you know, stationed in Yemen and carrying out attacks from Yemen.”

Military experts at the Rusi think tank warned, “it may prove difficult for the West to effectively degrade Houthi capabilities”.

Commenting on how concerning the escalation by the Yemeni rebel group is, Rear Admiral Chris Parry told The Sun: “The end is to impose costs on those countries that are either tacitly or actively supporting Israel.

“What they’re doing is interrupting international trade through an international straits.

“And hoping that will put pressure on both the free world economies but also the governments of the country is concerned.”

At the moment, Rear Admiral Parry isn’t concerned with immediate military action, unless the iron fleet in the Red Sea starts to give in.

He said: “I think right now, the warships in the Red Sea are coping pretty admirably with the threat.

“But as soon as you get an indication that those warships might be overwhelmed by the threat then you will see immediate strike action against elements of the command system of the Houthi rebels and also their military capability.”

He added: “I think over time the international community is going to lose patience with the Houthis as well.”

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