DUBAI, April 22 (Reuters) – At least three container ships were shot at in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, according to maritime security sources and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). Iran has pl...
DUBAI, April 22 (Reuters) – At least three container ships were shot at in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, according to maritime security sources and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
Iran has placed restrictions on ships in the strait, initially as a response to U.S.-Israeli airstrikes, and later due to a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.
A Liberia-flagged container ship was damaged when it was hit by gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades northeast of Oman.
The UKMTO reported that the ship's captain said they were approached by an IRGC gunboat. Following this, the vessel was fired upon, but all crew members were unharmed, and there was no fire or environmental damage from the attack.
Sources stated that there were three people onboard the gunboat.
The captain of the Greek-operated container ship indicated that there was no radio communication before the attack and that they had been informed they could pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
The UKMTO later reported that a second container ship was shot at around eight nautical miles west of Iran. This Panama-flagged vessel was not damaged, and its crew is safe.
Additionally, security sources mentioned that a third container ship was fired upon about eight nautical miles from Iran while leaving the Strait of Hormuz. This Liberia-flagged vessel was not damaged and had stopped in the water, with its crew safe.
Before the conflict started on February 28, this waterway typically carried about one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas.