An oil tanker transiting off the coast of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz was struck by a projectile early on Tuesday morning, the UK military deployed in the region confirmed. According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre, the tanker had been hit near Limah, Oman, in the strait.
It added that a projectile had hit the port side of the vessel while it was trying to travel south out of the Strait towards the Gulf of Oman.
Though the strike did not cause extensive damage to the ship or the environment, an investigation to probe the attack has been initiated, it added.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, though Iran is suspected of attacking at least two other vessels in the strait travelling on a route near Oman in recent days.
While US-based media outlets are blaming Iran for the attack, after several of them on Monday reported that “Iran fired at least two missiles at commercial ships”, without naming their sources for the information.
Meanwhile, several other independent and prominent outlets have so far not confirmed the reports and said claims made by certain outlets remain unverified.
Furthermore, the Pentagon has also not issued any statement regarding the incident.
The Strait of Hormuz was at the centre of tensions during the Middle East war, when Iran blockaded the waterway and a number of commercial vessels came under attack, sending global energy prices sharply higher.
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