Pieces of mines recovered after attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman “bears a striking resemblance” to Iranian mines, the US navy has said.

Commander Sean Kido, of the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet also said the damage done to tanker Kokuka Courageous last week was “not consistent with an external flying object hitting the ship.”

That contradicts the ship’s owner, which quoted eyewitnesses aboard who saw “flying objects” before the 13 June attack.

Officials showed what they described as evidence recovered from the ship to reporters at the US navy’s 5th Fleet base near Fujairah, in the United Arab Emirates.

Mr Kido added that Navy investigators have recovered fingerprints and a hand print from the side of the ship after the attack.

Source » sky