Two vessels attacked in Strait of Hormuz, UKMTO says

Two vessels were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, September 10, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) service said.

The master of another vessel reported seeing four unidentified projectiles hit the two vessels about 7 kilometres (4.3 miles) west of the Omani city of Khasab, according to UKMTO. A fire broke out aboard one of the vessels, while the condition of the second vessel remained unknown.

Authorities were investigating the incident, and no group or individual had claimed responsibility for the attack.

The incidents occurred against a backdrop of a sharp decline in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime route for oil and gas exports from the Gulf states.

Preliminary data showed that only seven vessels passed through the strait on September 10, significantly below the average number recorded over the previous 10 days.

By Tamilla Hasanova