Saudi-flagged crude tanker damaged near Strait of Hormuz, sources say

A Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker ​was damaged near the ‌Strait of Hormuz close to the coast of ​Oman after a Qatari ​liquefied natural gas tanker ⁠was struck in ​the same area, maritime ​security sources said.

The cause of the blast ​was not known ​and the crude tanker hit was ‌believed ⁠to the Wedyan supertanker, the sources said, Reuters reports.

The Wedyan's last position ​was inside ​the ⁠Gulf on July 3, according ​to ship tracking ​data ⁠on the MarineTraffic platform. Saudi officials could ⁠not ​be immediately reached ​for comment.

Earlier reports indicated that a tanker had been struck by an unidentified projectile off the coast of Oman.

Subsequently, Iran's state broadcaster IRIB, citing unnamed sources, claimed that the oil tanker targeted in the Strait of Hormuz had come under attack after attempting to navigate the Omani transit corridor under the protection and guidance of the US Navy.

By Vafa Guliyeva