The Pentagon is releasing new photos that officials say show that members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard were responsible for attacks last week on two oil tankers near the Persian Gulf.
The military says the photos taken from a Navy helicopter show Iranian forces removing an unexploded mine from the side of the Japanese-owned Kokuka Courageous oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman.
Other photos show a large hole on the side of the Courageous, above the water line, that officials say appears to have been caused by another mine.
This image released by the U.S. Department of Defense on Monday, June 17, 2019, and taken from a U.S. Navy helicopter, shows what the Navy says are members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy removing an unexploded limpet mine from the MT Kokuka Courageous. (U.S. Department of Defense via AP)
The Pentagon released the photos Monday to bolster its claim that Iran was responsible for the attacks. Iran has denied involvement.
The attacks on the tanker occurred as relations between the U.S. and Iran have deteriorated in recent months.
This image released by the U.S. Department of Defense on Monday, June 17, 2019, is a view of hull penetrationblast damage on the starboard side of the motor vessel MT Kokuka Courageous, which the Navy says was sustained from a limpet mine attack while operating in the Gulf of Oman, on June 13th. (U.S. Department of Defense via AP)
