A vessel transiting outbound in the Strait of Hormuz caught fire after two explosive devices attached to its hull detonated on Thursday, 25 nautical miles northeast of Oman’s Khasab, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.
According to UKTMO, the vessel was approached by a smaller ship that attached the explosives to the hull above the waterline.
UKMTO said the subsequent blasts resulted in a fire in the vessel’s engine room, which temporarily disabled the vessel. The fire has since been extinguished, the crew is safe, and the vessel is heading to its next port call.
It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack.
Earlier on Thursday, UKMTO reported that it had received a report from a company security officer that a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile while transiting outbound through the Strait of Hormuz.
Also on Thursday, IRNA reported that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) claimed three oil tankers had caught fire after hitting mines in the Strait of Hormuz while “attempting to pass through the unauthorized southern route of the Strait of Hormuz.”
According to the outlet, the three ships had “switched off all their radar and navigation systems” and disregarded warnings from the IRGC navy.
“Facts on the ground will speak for themselves. Any provocative action backed by the aggressive and terrorist US military that disregards the regulations governing the strait will be met with a firm response,” IRNA reported, citing an IRGC statement.