An oil tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile and set ablaze in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday evening local time, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported. The crew was confirmed safe, but the extent of damage to the vessel and any potential environmental impact remain unclear, according to UKMTO .
The incident occurred approximately 8 kilometers off the coast of Oman, Iran’s Fars news agency reported, adding that the tanker had been transiting an unauthorized route through the strait . No group or country has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil, gas, and fertilizer trade, has seen repeated attacks on commercial vessels in recent months. Iran has largely blocked traffic through the waterway amid its conflict with the United States, which has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports in response .
UKMTO, which monitors maritime security, has recorded multiple attacks on merchant ships in the strait in September, with some incidents resulting in fires and crew injuries . The latest strike follows a pattern of unresolved claims and counteraccusations, with neither Washington nor Tehran signaling a de-escalation in the region’s tensions.
