Muscat:Oman's navy successfully evacuated 25 crew members from a Panama-flagged commercial vessel on Friday following an attack that resulted in a fire off the northern Musandam governorate, as reported by the Omani Maritime Security Center.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, the Royal Navy, in collaboration with the Maritime Security Center, conducted the evacuation of the crew from the vessel named RIT1. The attack occurred approximately 1.6 nautical miles off the Musandam coast, leading to a fire on board.

The crew members were provided with necessary medical care. However, the authorities have not disclosed whether any injuries were sustained. The statement did not specify the responsible parties for the attack or detail the nature of the attack. Information on the extent of the damage to the vessel or the status of the fire was also not provided.

This incident followed reports from the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) of a tanker catching fire in the Strait of Hormuz after being attacked with two explosive devices on Thursday evening, around 25 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman. The UKMTO noted that a small boat had approached the tanker and attached explosive devices to its hull, causing a fire in the engine room and temporarily disabling the vessel.

These events occur amid increased security threats to commercial shipping in the Gulf region, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waterways. The tensions persist amid ongoing disputes between Iran and the US over navigation through this critical global energy supply route. Earlier in the year, the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran, culminating in a ceasefire in April, although hostilities resumed in July as negotiations stalled.