A tanker was hit by three unknown projectiles while traveling through the Strait of Hormuz near Oman. This incident is part of ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran affecting commercial shipping.
According to UK Maritime Trade Operations, the attack happened about 17 nautical miles east of Khasab, Oman, around 2000 UTC on Monday.
“A tanker has reported being struck by three unknown projectiles while leaving the Strait of Hormuz,” said UKMTO.
So far, there have been no reports of injuries or environmental damage. Authorities are looking into the incident, and UKMTO has advised nearby vessels to proceed with caution.
This attack is different from another incident reported by UKMTO earlier on the same day, which involved unidentified military forces further east in the Indian Ocean.
In that case, UKMTO received a report from the ship's captain about “an incident involving a tanker and military forces in the Indian Ocean,” but no further details were provided about the tanker or the military forces involved.
The location noted by UKMTO is situated east of Oman in the Arabian Sea, well outside the Strait of Hormuz.
There has been no confirmation regarding U.S. forces being involved. However, the mention of “military forces” coincides with ongoing U.S. efforts to enforce a maritime blockade to prevent vessels from trading with Iran.
This blockade was established by the U.S. military in April to target ships entering or leaving Iranian ports. Since then, U.S. forces have boarded and seized multiple Iran-related tankers in the Gulf of Oman and Indian Ocean. The Pentagon asserts that the blockade applies to vessels of all nations engaging in trade with Iran.
The latest incident near Khasab is significant as the tanker was navigating the Omani side of the Strait, an area that has seen repeated attacks on commercial vessels during the conflict. UKMTO has not identified the tanker or revealed the type of projectiles used in the attack.
This follows another recent attack near Khasab, where a tanker was hit by an unknown projectile roughly 12 nautical miles north of Khasab on August 29, also while entering the Strait. No casualties or environmental damage were reported in that case either.
These events occur against a backdrop of rising tensions between Washington and Tehran after a period of relative calm.
Over the weekend, U.S. forces targeted Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island, with U.S. Central Command stating that Iran was preparing rockets carrying mines for use in the Strait. In response, Iran launched missile attacks targeting U.S. forces in Jordan, and the UAE intercepted an Iranian drone over its territorial waters.
These recent hostilities follow U.S. claims that their forces have cleared mines from recognized shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz. Nevertheless, Iran maintains its claim over navigation in the area, and commercial activities remain heavily affected.
The recent attacks highlight ongoing dangers along the Omani side of the Strait, even after U.S. mine-clearing efforts. Maritime security officials have previously indicated that this route has been particularly perilous during the conflict.
On Monday, Iranian media also reported that a Saudi tanker was stopped in the Strait of Hormuz, although this has not been confirmed by Saudi Arabia.
In summary, the reports from Monday depict continued instability around the Strait: an outbound tanker hit by three projectiles near Khasab, a separate tanker incident involving military forces in the Indian Ocean, and renewed military exchanges between the U.S. and Iran.
The details and responsibilities surrounding both tanker incidents are still under investigation.