Cargo ship ablaze in Strait of Hormuz after projectile strike, forcing crew to evacuate

Dubai: A cargo ship was hit by an unknown projectile in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, sparking a fire and forcing the crew to evacuate, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Wednesday.

"It has been reported that a cargo vessel has been hit by an unknown projectile in the Straits of Hormuz which has resulted in a fire onboard," the UKMTO, run by the British military, said. The vessel was struck just north of Oman in the strait.

The incident follows US operations targeting Iranian minelaying vessels that could threaten the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf. Iran has not immediately claimed responsibility, though it has previously targeted ships in and around the strait, a waterway through which a fifth of all traded oil and natural gas passes.

The UKMTO earlier reported another attack on a vessel off Ras al-Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates.

It may be noted that this development comes at a time when many vessels and seafarers are currently stranded in the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, and surrounding waters due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing military operations involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.