Istanbul: A foreign-flagged, Turkish-operated crude oil tanker was targeted on Thursday by an unmanned maritime drone in the Black Sea near Istanbul, Trkiye's transport minister said, adding that no casualties were reported among the crew.

According to Anadolu Agency, the vessel, carrying crude oil, was struck, with the engine room as the apparent target, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said during a live broadcast on 24TV. The minister confirmed that there were 27 Turkish crew members on board at the time of the incident, all of whom were reported safe.

Minister Uraloglu also mentioned that relevant elements were directed to the scene, and the situation continues to be closely monitored. The attack has raised concerns over the security of vessels operating in the region, and authorities are expected to investigate the incident further.