Several vessels in the Gulf caught fire on Wednesday, according to a British maritime service, following Iran’s announcement that it had attacked 20 ships attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
The latest attacks come amid a deadlock in the six-month war, with Iran maintaining tight control over the strategic waterway as Washington continues to push for a blockade of Iranian ports.
UK maritime service reports incidents
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said several commercial vessels in the Northern Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman had come under “neutralising fire” amid ongoing military activity in the region.
The service also reported an incident involving a vessel 24 nautical miles northwest of Port Rashid in the United Arab Emirates, which appeared to have moved, possibly as a result of an attack.
“The master of a tanker reported seeing a vessel moving while at anchor, possibly indicating water ingress following an attack by an unknown projectile,” the UKMTO said.
Iran claims attacks on 20 vessels
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced on Wednesday that it had attacked two US vessels, eight oil tankers and 10 “non-compliant vessels” attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media.
The reported attacks followed US strikes on Iranian vessels.
Tehran has also threatened to target oil tankers off the coasts of Kuwait and Bahrain, further raising concerns over shipping and energy security in the strategically important Gulf region.
Also read: US-Iran tensions escalate with tanker strikes and missile attacks
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