Dubai, Sept 29 (V7N) – An "unknown projectile" struck a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, sparking a fire on board that has since been extinguished, a British maritime agency reported Tuesday.
The ship was hit on Monday evening but the crew were safe, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) said. "The fire has since been extinguished and the vessel is underway," the agency said. "There has been no reported environmental impact or damage assessment."
The Strait of Hormuz is currently at the centre of the Middle East war between Iran and the United States. Around **a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas** passed through the strategic shipping lane before the war. But since the conflict broke out, Tehran has been blocking the passage of commercial ships, firing on vessels it accuses of unauthorised crossings. Washington has responded with a counter-blockade of Iranian ports in an effort to prevent Tehran from exporting its oil.
The latest strike marks the continuation of attacks on shipping in the strategic waterway. Iran's Revolutionary Guards announced on September 9 a new "prohibited zone" outside the Strait of Hormuz covering parts of the Gulf of Oman and beyond, warning that vessels entering the area without coordination would be subject to "sanctions," including being denied services such as insurance. On September 7, Iranian forces said they struck 10 vessels attempting to cross Hormuz without coordination. The UKMTO has issued multiple warnings to vessels transiting the area, advising them to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity.
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