One crew member was killed after a commercial vessel was struck by an unknown projectile while transiting outbound through the Strait of Hormuz, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Tuesday.
UKMTO said the vessel suffered damage to its engine room and that the remaining crew members were being assisted and evacuated by the Omani Coast Guard. The agency did not identify the vessel or say who was responsible for the attack.
No environmental damage had been reported, and authorities were investigating the incident. It was not immediately clear whether the projectile was a missile, drone or another type of weapon.
The attack comes as commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains severely disrupted amid the continuing conflict and tensions between Iran and the United States. Reuters reported that vessel traffic through the strategic waterway has fallen sharply, with recent crossings remaining in the single digits compared with much higher levels before the conflict.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy corridors, normally carrying roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies. The decline in shipping has raised concerns over energy supplies, freight costs and the wider impact of the conflict on global trade.
The latest incident follows a series of attacks and security incidents involving commercial vessels in and around the strait. The United Arab Emirates has recently accused Iran of attacking vessels operated by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, allegations Tehran has not formally accepted responsibility for.
Iran has repeatedly asserted that it controls the Strait of Hormuz, while Washington has challenged Tehran’s claims and called for freedom of navigation. The competing positions, combined with stalled diplomacy, have left commercial shipping facing heightened security risks.
