Netanyahu accuses Iran of attacking Israeli-owned ship

JERUSALEM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday Iran is behind the attack that targeted an Israeli-owned cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman.

“It was indeed an act by Iran, that’s clear,” Netanyahu told Israeli Broadcasting Corporation.

Replying to a question on whether Israel would retaliate, Netanyahu said: "We are hitting it [Iran] in the entire region.”

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh denied the Israeli accusation calling it "baseless."

"The security of the Persian Gulf is extremely important for Iran," Khatibzadeh was quoted by Iranian official news agency IRNA as saying.

On Friday, a cargo ship owned by Israeli businessman Rami Ungar named MV Helios Ray and rolling a Bahaman flag was attacked in the Gulf of Oman while on its way to Singapore. Israeli media reported that the ship was hit with two rockets.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara.