Vessel Struck by Unknown Projectile Near Strait of Hormuz, UKMTO Says
"The master reports the vessel has been struck by an unknown projectile which has caused a hole on the starboard side. Vessel and crew safe, no environmental impact reported," the agency said in a statement.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – A vessel was struck by an "unknown projectile" near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, the British maritime security agency UKMTO reported on Monday, marking the latest incident affecting shipping in the strategic waterway.
According to UKMTO, the incident occurred off the coast of Lima, Oman, near the entrance to the strait.
"The master reports the vessel has been struck by an unknown projectile which has caused a hole on the starboard side. Vessel and crew safe, no environmental impact reported," the agency said in a statement.
Before the outbreak of the Middle East war in late February, following US-Israeli strikes on Iran, the Strait of Hormuz carried approximately 20 percent of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.
Since the conflict began, Iran has tightened its control over the shipping route and repeatedly targeted vessels attempting to pass without its authorization.
The United States has responded by maintaining a blockade on Iranian ports, while negotiations between Washington and Tehran remain deadlocked.
Attacks on vessels attempting to navigate the waterway have increased in recent days, as Washington steps up naval escorts for ships passing through the strait and Tehran seeks to maintain control over maritime traffic.