Two vessels were struck by unknown projectiles four nautical miles west of Oman's Khasab, with one catching fire, the UK Maritime Trade Operations reported on Thursday. The incidents occurred amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran.
The incidents raise concerns about maritime security in a critical global shipping lane, potentially impacting oil and gas supply chains and increasing risk premiums for vessels transiting the region.
Four unknown projectiles struck two vessels four nautical miles west of Oman's Khasab on Thursday, with one vessel catching fire and the status of the second remaining unknown, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported. The master of another vessel in the vicinity observed the projectiles hitting the two ships approximately six nautical miles north of his position.
Separately, a cargo vessel reported being hit by an unknown projectile off the coast of Oman on Monday. The UKMTO received this report from military authorities at 2200 GMT, noting the incident occurred about 20 nautical miles northeast of Al Khasab, Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz. The cargo vessel communicated via VHF radio that it had been struck. The UKMTO has advised vessels transiting the area to exercise caution and report suspicious activity. The agency has documented a series of maritime security incidents off Oman's coast in recent weeks, coinciding with escalated tensions between the United States and Iran.