A bulk carrier was attacked by small craft and a tanker hit by projectiles hours apart, UKMTO says
Two cargo ships were attacked near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
The strategic waterway, which handles roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows, is currently under a dual blockade, with Iran restricting access to “hostile vessels” while US naval forces block ships entering or leaving Iranian ports.
The first alert followed reports from several ships near the Emirati city of Ras Al Khaimah, which said they had been ordered via radio to leave anchorage and move toward Dubai.
Shortly afterward, a northbound bulk carrier was attacked by multiple small craft about 11 nautical miles west of Sirik, Iran. Hours later, a tanker was struck by unidentified projectiles roughly 78 nautical miles north of Fujairah in the UAE.
All crew were reported safe, and no environmental impact was recorded, according to UKMTO.
On Sunday, President Donald Trump said the US would begin guiding ships from neutral countries through the strait starting Monday. An estimated 2,000 vessels have been trapped in and around Hormuz since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran on February 28.
According to Axios, the US would provide commercial ships with information about safe lanes free of Iranian mines, while US Navy vessels would remain ready to prevent Iran from targeting ships passing through the strait. Iran has warned that any intervention would constitute a violation of the ceasefire reached nearly a month ago.
Iran maintains that it has a “natural right” to control the strait, with Deputy Parliament Speaker Ali Nikzad saying on Sunday that Tehran will not back down from its position regardless of the outcome of peace talks with the US.
