Oil tankers attacked
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TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — Two oil tankers have been struck by “unidentified projectiles” in the Strait of Hormuz region, a British maritime agency said Friday, in the latest threat to shipping in the waterway.
The Hormuz passage, through which a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passed before the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran in late February and sparked the Middle East war, remains at the heart of the conflict.
Tehran has been blocking the passage of commercial ships, firing on vessels it accuses of unauthorised crossings.
Washington responded with a counterblockade of Iranian ports in an effort to prevent Tehran from exporting its oil.
The first attack caused “a small fire and blackout onboard,” the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said Friday, adding that the fire was later extinguished.
There were no reported casualties or environmental impact, it added.
The vessel, which was exiting the strait, was able to resume its journey, UKMTO said, without specifying the ship’s ports of origin and destination.
Hours later, another crude oil tanker reported being struck by an “unknown projectile” east of Oman, with all crew safe and no environmental damage reported, according to the UKMTO.
The agency said authorities were investigating the incidents.
