Oil tanker disabled by projectile in Strait of Hormuz

An oil tanker was struck and disabled by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman on Monday night, according to a report from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations on Tuesday. The incident, which left the crew safe but the vessel immobilized, underscores the persistent dangers to commercial shipping in the vital waterway, which has been under effective Iranian control since a war between Iran and the United States and Israel began in late February.

The UKMTO stated that the vessel was hit approximately nine nautical miles northeast of Ash Shishah, Oman. The projectile damaged the engine room, disabling the ship. No casualties were reported, and the environmental impact was not immediately known. The tanker's nationality and direction of travel were not specified. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

The strike occurred amid ongoing hostilities over control of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical conduit for global oil and gas shipments. Since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, 2026, Iran has imposed a blockade on the strait, periodically firing at vessels it accuses of circumventing its preferred route. The U.S....