Unidentified projectile hits container ship near UAE

A container ship was struck by an unidentified projectile on the morning of March 12, 35 nautical miles off the coast of Jebel Ali, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

All crew members were reported safe, and no environmental impact has been reported, Caliber.Az informs per UKMTO.

The UKMTO said the ship’s captain reported a small fire onboard caused by the strike, but due to darkness, authorities could not immediately assess the extent of the damage. The agency advised vessels in the area to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity to the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

This incident is the sixth attack on ships in the Persian Gulf over the past two days. Among previous attacks, a Thai-flagged cargo vessel was struck 11 nautical miles north of Oman, leading to a fire onboard. The Royal Thai Navy confirmed that all 23 crew members were rescued.

Iran has claimed responsibility for the recent attacks, saying the crews of targeted vessels ignored warnings.

Earlier, two foreign oil tankers were attacked in Iraqi waters, where at least one person was killed and 38 crew members were rescued. Iranian authorities later stated that the tankers were “blown up in the evening” by an underwater drone, according to Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.

By Sabina Mammadli