Crude oil tanker comes under fire in the Strait of Hormuz

A crude oil tanker has come under fire in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report. The ship was hit on the port side by an unknown projectile, the British Maritime Safety Authority (UKMTO) reported, citing the captain. The crew of the ship should therefore be safe.

The incident reportedly occurred near the northern tip of Oman, where the Musandam enclave protrudes into the strait. The ship was less than eight kilometers from the coast at the time.

Iran and Oman are countries directly bordering the Strait of Hormuz, which is only around 35 to 40 kilometers wide at its narrowest point. The strait has become the central point of contention between Iran and the United States in the Iran war.

The waterway, which is important for global energy trade, has recently been subject to regular shelling. In the conflict with the USA, Iran is largely blocking traffic there with attacks on ships. The US military also attacked civilian Iranian ships.