Tanker struck by 'unknown projectile' in Hormuz

A tanker was struck in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, causing a fire that was extinguished, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

"The CSO of a vessel has reported a tanker being hit by an unknown projectile, causing a fire onboard which has since been extinguished," the maritime monitor said, adding that the crew were safe, although the environmental impact of the attack was "unconfirmed."

Iran said it struck a Togo-flagged oil tanker, the Trend, for what it called an "illegal attempt" to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the state broadcaster reported, citing the Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The Associated Press could not immediately confirm the report. The Guard's navy warned that unauthorised passage through the strait would result in the "destruction" of offending vessels, the broadcaster said.

A monitor overnight reported a ship "security incident" 16 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman, which lies on the other side of the strait.

The crew was safe and no environmental impact was reported, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said. It was not clear if the UKMTO report was describing the attack that Iran claimed.

The US military has been guiding some commercial ships through the strait off Oman as the risk of Iranian attacks continues.

Separately, the UKMTO reported that a tanker on the strait was hit by an "unknown projectile," causing a fire that was later extinguished. The crew was reported safe, with no immediate indication of environmental damage, it said.

Meanwhile, South Korea says it is considering expanding the operations of a naval operation in the Gulf of Aden off the Arabian Peninsula to protect its ships and oil routes, but it won't send troops to intervene in the Iran war.

Agencies