The Permanent Representatives to the United Nations of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Kingdom of Norway, on Thursday briefed members of the United Nations Security Council on the preliminary findings of the investigation into the coordinated attacks on four oil tankers that took place in the morning of 12th May 2019 off the port of Fujairah. The attacks took place within UAE territorial waters less than 12 nautical miles from the UAE coastline, and UAE authorities have taken the lead in the investigation in coordination with several international partners. The affected states stressed that the attacks endangered international commercial navigation and the security of global energy supplies, and threatened international peace and security. They also thanked Council members who had already rendered support to the investigation into the attacks and invited all members of the Council to review the evidence that has been secured by UAE authorities. Furthermore, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Kingdom of Norway committed to keeping Council members apprised of further findings from the ongoing investigation and requested that the Security Council be seized of the matter. The assessment of the damage to the four vessels and the chemical analysis of the debris recovered revealed it was highly likely that limpet mines were used in the attacks on the four vessels on 12th May 2019, the statement revealed. "Based on the evaluation of radar data, and the short time several of the targeted vessels had been at anchor prior to the attacks, it appears most likely that the mines were placed on the vessels by divers deployed from fast boats," it added. While investigations are still ongoing, the joint statement said that "these facts are strong indications that the four attacks were part of a sophisticated and coordinated operation carried out by an actor with significant operational capacity, most likely a state actor." --More 14:30 LOCAL TIME 11:30 GMT 0006 www.spa.gov.sa/1932288
