(MENAFN- Saudi Press Agency)
It went on to note that the above is supported by the following facts:
- The attacks required intelligence capabilities for the deliberate selection of four oil tankers from among almost 200 vessels of all types that lay at anchor off Fujairah at the time of the attacks. One of the targets was at the opposite end of the anchorage area from the other ships, which indicates that these were premeditated strikes, rather than targets picked at random.
- The attacks likely required the positive identification of these pre-selected targets by the operatives carrying out the attacks.
- The attacks required trained divers; the explosive charges were placed with a high degree of precision under the waterline, in ways that were designed to incapacitate the ships without sinking them or detonating their cargoes – indicating minute knowledge of the design of the targeted ships.
- The attacks required a high degree of coordination among what most likely were several teams of operatives. This included the timed detonation of all four explosive charges, sequenced within less than an hour.
- The attacks required the expert navigation of fast boats, with understanding of the geographic area, that were able to intrude into UAE territorial waters and to exfiltrate the operatives after delivering the explosive charges.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Kingdom of Norway will also share these preliminary findings with the London-based International Maritime Organisation, IMO. The UAE will also inform the organisation and its members of protective measures for the safety and security of maritime shipping.
--SPA
14:30 LOCAL TIME 11:30GMT
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