Tanker hit by two projectiles in the northern Gulf, UKMTO says, as Iran's navy claims another tanker caught fire after striking a mine
A tanker was struck on its port side by two unidentified projectiles about 72 nautical miles east of Ras al Khafji, Saudi Arabia, the UK's maritime security agency said. Iran's navy separately said an unnamed tanker caught fire after hitting a mine near the eastern entrance to the Strait of Hormuz. Neither vessel has been named.
A tanker sailing southeast through the Gulf was struck on its port side by two unidentified projectiles at 11:47pm GMT on Sunday 1 November, about 72 nautical miles east of Ras al Khafji, Saudi Arabia, the UK Maritime Trade Operations centre (UKMTO) said. All crew were accounted for and no environmental damage was reported, it said, without naming the vessel or saying who was responsible, gCaptain reported.
On Monday, Iran’s navy said an unnamed oil tanker caught fire after striking a mine in a “prohibited and unsafe” zone east of the Strait of Hormuz with its navigation systems switched off, Anadolu reported. The statement gave no details on the crew or damage, and warned shipowners against crossing restricted waters without coordination. Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB claimed 11 tankers had “caught fire” in or near the strait since 25 October, without offering evidence, CBS News reported. These Iranian claims could not be independently confirmed.
Wider picture
The Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC), a multinational naval information centre, kept its threat level for the Strait of Hormuz at “severe” and recorded 18 confirmed attacks there since 6 October as of its 1 November assessment, gCaptain reported. It said about 490 vessels were waiting outside the strait and 119 US-facilitated transits took place from 29 to 31 October. Oman’s navy said it evacuated 25 crew from the Panama-flagged tanker RITI after it was attacked and caught fire near the Musandam Peninsula.
Background
Iran has targeted shipping in and around the strait since the war began in February. US Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper said last week that “all primary transit routes in the Strait of Hormuz remain free and clear”, while UKMTO said there were 30 attacks on commercial vessels in the region in October, CBS News reported.
See also: Two tankers ‘exploded’ after striking ‘naval mines’ in the Strait of Hormuz, the IRGC Navy claims.
Sources
- New Wave of Attacks Hits Tankers and LNG Carrier in Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf · gCaptain
- Oil tanker catches fire after hitting naval mine east of Strait of Hormuz, says Iranian Navy · Middle East Monitor (Anadolu)
- Live Updates: Iran says "ball is in the U.S. court" on deal to end war as Trump keeps his intentions veiled · CBS News
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