Tanker Hit by Unknown Projectile in Strait of Hormuz, UK Maritime Agency Says
The crew were reported safe following the incident, while the extent of damage to the vessel remained unclear, the British maritime agency said.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — A tanker was attacked Thursday while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, with an unknown projectile striking the vessel and causing a fire, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) said.
The crew were reported safe following the incident, while the extent of damage to the vessel remained unclear, the British maritime agency said.
UKMTO did not identify the tanker’s flag or destination and did not say whether it was carrying crude oil, refined petroleum products or liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The incident comes as the Strait of Hormuz remains a major flashpoint in the conflict between Iran and the United States and Israel. The strategic waterway connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea and is one of the world’s most important energy corridors.
Before the conflict escalated with US and Israeli strikes against Iran in late February, roughly one-fifth of global oil and LNG supplies passed through the strait, making disruptions there a major concern for international energy markets.
Iran has sought to restrict commercial shipping through the waterway, while vessels have been targeted or warned over what Tehran describes as unauthorized crossings. The United States, meanwhile, has imposed a counterblockade targeting Iranian ports in an effort to limit Tehran’s oil exports.
Although Washington has not carried out strikes on Iranian targets since September 1, commercial vessels have continued to face security incidents in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
The latest attack adds to concerns over the safety of maritime traffic through the narrow waterway, which remains critical to global energy supplies and international shipping.