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An unknown projectile struck and ignited a fire on an oil tanker in the strategic Strait of Hormuz region on Monday, according to British maritime security agency UKMTO.
The strike hit the port side of the southbound vessel eight nautical miles east of Limah, Oman, directly threatening one of the world’s most critical energy supply routes.
The security agency reported that the incident caused no immediate casualties or environmental damage, though authorities have launched an investigation and urged nearby ships to transit with extreme caution.
The attack shakes a fragile regional peace, occurring despite a recent ceasefire and an active maritime agreement between the United States and Iran.
During the peak of the recent Middle East conflict, an Iranian blockade and attacks on commercial shipping sent global energy prices soaring, prompting a retaliatory US naval response.
While traffic recently resumed under the peace accord, Tehran continues to reject pre-war shipping arrangements and demands that vessels only use its state-authorised coastal corridor.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a vital international choke point, handling roughly 20 million barrels of crude oil per day, which accounts for approximately one-fifth of global consumption.
