A cargo ship was struck by an unknown projectile on Wednesday, March 11th in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, causing a fire onboard and forcing the crew to evacuate, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
The British military-run maritime security center said the vessel was hit in the strait just north of Oman. The impact reportedly ignited a fire on the ship, prompting the crew to abandon the vessel.
The incident occurred after the United States targeted Iranian minelaying vessels that could threaten the narrow entrance to the Persian Gulf. Iran did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack.
Tehran has previously targeted ships in and around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s natural gas and traded oil passes.
Meanwhile—according to UKMTO reports—a container ship and a bulk carrier were also hit off the coast of the UAE, one off Dubai and the other off the northern Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, again by unidentified projectiles.
