London: Two crew members sustained minor injuries after a tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz was struck by an unknown projectile, the United Kingdom’s Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Monday.
Military authorities informed UKMTO that the tanker was conducting an inbound transit when it was hit.
The vessel was continuing to its next port of call under its own power, with no environmental impact reported at present.
Authorities are investigating the incident, UKMTO said, while advising vessels operating in the area to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity.
Another Tanker Hit in Strait of Hormuz
The incident came three days after UKMTO reported that another tanker had been hit by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, causing a fire onboard. All crew members in that incident were reported safe.
The navy of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said early Friday that a “violating” oil tanker that sought “illegal” passage through the Strait of Hormuz was struck the previous night and brought to a halt.
In a statement published on the IRGC’s official news outlet Sepah News, the navy said the Togo-flagged oil tanker, named Trend, was stopped after it caught fire following the strike.
The vessel attempted to cross the strait “illegally” after being “deceived and provoked” by the US Army, the IRGC said.
The Iranian force warned that attempting what it described as illegal passage through the waterway would lead to “destruction”.
The navy added that its forces remained in control of the Strait of Hormuz and would not allow passage by any “aggressor”.
IRGC Claims Another Tanker Exploded After Hitting Naval Mines
Earlier, the IRGC said that a super oil tanker seeking to cross the Strait of Hormuz through what it described as the “forbidden” route south of the waterway exploded and caught fire after hitting naval mines.
In a statement published on Sepah News, the IRGC navy said efforts to contain the fire on the tanker, identified as EL GAIA, were futile and the entire vessel was engulfed in flames.
It added that warnings had been issued about the risks of using the “illegal” route in the strategic waterway.
The IRGC stressed that the Strait of Hormuz remained closed and under the control of Iran’s naval forces.
The latest incident involving the tanker comes amid heightened tensions and increased security concerns around shipping activity in the strategic waterway.