The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which monitors vessels and seafarers worldwide, announced today that an oil tanker was targeted in an attack off the coast of Qatar, near the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the UKMTO, which operates under the UK military, the vessel—sailing under an unidentified flag—was struck by an unknown projectile.
“The tanker was hit by an unknown projectile on the port side, causing damage to the hull above the waterline,” the agency said, noting that there were no injuries among the crew and no environmental damage.
The attack occurred 17 nautical miles (31.5 kilometers) north of Doha, according to the UKMTO, which warned vessels transiting the area to exercise extreme caution and report any suspicious activity.
Read more about this topic: Iran War: China confirms three ships transit the Strait of Hormuz
Iran, which controls the northern coast of the Strait of Hormuz, has been effectively blocking this crucial route for global energy trade—particularly oil and gas—in response to attacks by Israel and the United States.
Tehran has restricted the route through attacks on tankers and has allowed only limited passage for some vessels near its coast, as a tactic to exert global economic pressure during the conflict.
Since February 28, when the conflict began, the UKMTO has recorded 28 incidents involving ships around the strait, 12 of which are linked to “suspicious activity,” such as sightings or sounds of projectiles.
On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the country plans to withdraw from Iran within two to three weeks and relinquish direct responsibility for the security of the Strait of Hormuz, leaving it to nations that depend on the route for transporting hydrocarbons.
