An oil tanker was hit during the night of this Monday by a projectile of unknown origin while sailing off the coast of Oman, in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, causing damage to the engine room and forcing the vessel to stop operating.
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The incident was recorded about 16.7 kilometers northeast of the Omani city of Ash Shishah, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center (UKMTO).
According to the British agency, the projectile struck the tanker and caused damage that left the ship inoperative. The crew, meanwhile, is reported to be safe.
For the moment, the origin of the projectile has not been determined nor has it been officially reported who might be behind the attack. Neither has the origin nor the course of the tanker nor the potential environmental impact resulting from the incident been specified.
After the episode, the UKMTO recommended that vessels navigating the area maintain a cautious attitude and report any activity they consider suspicious.
The incident occurs amid growing tension around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the main maritime routes for the international transport of oil and other energy products.
The United States currently maintains control operations over the strategic maritime passage as part of its economic and trade pressure campaign against Iran.
According to the United States Central Command (Centcom), as of this Monday its forces had diverted 71 commercial vessels, kept three vessels immobilized, and carried out two boardings.
The U.S. military agency also indicated that its operations had allowed the transit of more than 40 vessels carrying humanitarian aid.
Washington has not attributed the impact recorded against the tanker to any specific organization or country, so the origin of the projectile remains undetermined.
The episode also occurs just days after Iran warned the United States about the consequences of maintaining its economic and trade pressure.
The Islamic Republic asserted that if Washington maintains what Tehran considers an economic and trade war against the country, not “a drop” of oil will leave the Persian Gulf region.
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