Khasab:Muscat A vessel was reported on fire in the Strait of Hormuz late Thursday, as confirmed by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, the incident occurred 25 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman. A third party reported that a vessel transiting outbound was on fire, although the cause was unknown at the time of the report. The UKMTO later confirmed that the crew were safe, with no environmental impact from the incident.

Reports indicate that the tanker was approached by a small boat on the port side, which attached two explosive devices to the hull above the waterline. The subsequent explosions resulted in a fire in the engine room, temporarily disabling the vessel. The fire was later extinguished, and the vessel continued to its next port of call. Authorities have advised vessels to proceed with caution and report any suspicious activities as investigations continue.

This incident comes amid escalating tensions between Iran and the US over navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global energy and commodity supplies. Earlier this year, the US and Israel launched a war against Iran, which responded with attacks on US and Israeli targets before a ceasefire was reached in April. Although a memorandum of understanding was signed in June between the US and Iran regarding freedom of navigation in the strait, its implementation has stalled due to ongoing security concerns.