On Monday, a commercial tanker reported being hit by what officials described as either a drone or a missile near the Strait of Hormuz. This incident marks another attack on merchant shipping as U.S. forces launched a tenth consecutive night of strikes on Iranian military sites.
Martin Kelly, Head of Advisory at EOS Risk Group, shared that the Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC) vessel Kaifan (IMO: 9656046) sent a distress call on VHF Channel 16, informing that it had been struck by a drone or missile, resulting in a fire in its engine room.
Earlier reports indicated that the Malta-flagged tanker Kavomaleas, which is operated by Greece's Dynacom Tankers, was abandoned after being hit by two projectiles off the coast of Oman.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued a new advisory regarding the recent attack. However, authorities have not provided further details on the damage or the condition of the crew.
This latest attack coincides with U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announcing that it had completed another series of strikes against Iranian military targets.
CENTCOM reported that the operation wrapped up at 9 p.m. ET on July 20, targeting Iranian military command centers, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and air defense systems.
According to CENTCOM, "The strikes were conducted to degrade Iran's ability to continue attacking commercial vessels moving through the Strait of Hormuz."
Despite the ongoing conflict, military officials stated that commercial shipping continues to pass through the waterway. Since early May, CENTCOM has assisted in the transit of about 900 commercial vessels, carrying around 450 million barrels of crude oil.
The command emphasized, "American forces remain positioned and ready to hold Iran accountable for unwarranted aggression against civilian mariners seeking to navigate freely through the strait."
This incident marks the second reported attack on a tanker on the same day.
Earlier, UKMTO confirmed that a merchant vessel was impacted by an unidentified projectile roughly 8 nautical miles northwest of Kumzar, Oman, along the U.S.-coordinated southern transit route near Oman's coastline.
The vessel, believed to be the Kavomaleas, caught fire after being hit by two projectiles, as reported by its operator, Dynacom Tankers. After activating the ship's firefighting systems, the captain ordered the crew to abandon ship. All crew members were safely rescued by Omani authorities, while the vessel remained adrift with the fire still ongoing.
These recent incidents highlight the worsening security situation in the Strait of Hormuz, where commercial vessels have been repeatedly attacked amidst escalating tensions between the United States and Iran. These attacks occur despite ongoing U.S. military efforts aimed at preventing Iran from targeting merchant shipping in one of the world's crucial energy routes.