The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) announced that it had received a report that a tanker sailing in the Strait of Hormuz was struck by ammunition of unidentified origin.
In its statement, the UKMTO reported that the crew on board the vessel is safe following the incident. It was noted that an assessment regarding whether the attack caused any environmental impact has not yet been finalized.
While it was recorded that authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident, vessels in the region were advised to proceed with caution and to report any suspicious activity to the UKMTO immediately.
Tension in the region had been rising with a series of statements in recent days. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps had announced this morning that a third supertanker attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz had been targeted.
In a statement made a day earlier, the Revolutionary Guard had reported that another supertanker attempting to pass through the strait had struck a sea mine, and that the explosion had caused damage to the ship's engine room.
Following the resumption of US attacks on July 8, Iran declared on July 12 that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz again; it had threatened to target ships that deviated from designated routes and passed through the region without permission.
News Source: 12punto
