London [UK], July 20 (ANI): A vessel caught fire in the strategic Strait of Hormuz on Monday following a missile strike, prompting the immediate evacuation of its crew.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed the incident, stating that “the crew safely abandoned the vessel and have been recovered by a tug boat.”
According to the maritime security agency, the attack occurred about 15 kilometers (8 nautical miles) northwest of Kumzar, Oman.
Providing an update on the vessel’s condition, the agency said the situation remains ongoing as the ship continues to drift without anyone on board.
“The fire has not been extinguished and the vessel is currently adrift,” UKMTO said in a statement. “Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO while authorities investigate.”
The attack underscores escalating geopolitical tensions in the region, where the US military has advised commercial vessels to follow routes closer to Oman while transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has targeted ships in the area, maintaining that it must retain authority over the strategic waterway, through which about 20 percent of the world’s traded oil and natural gas moved during peacetime.
The maritime confrontation is part of a broader escalation between Washington and Tehran.
Following the announcement of another US service member’s death, the United States launched a fresh wave of airstrikes early Monday, marking the ninth consecutive night of operations. Meanwhile, Tehran fired missiles toward Jordan, raising concerns that the conflict could spread to neighboring Israel.
The expanding conflict suggests both countries have moved closer to full-scale war following the collapse of last month’s temporary ceasefire agreement.
As a result, maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely disrupted, with both sides targeting infrastructure linked to the conflict.
According to the US military, the latest American service member was killed in Iraq on Saturday during the controlled detonation of a downed Iranian drone.
The death followed an intense weekend of US military operations. Earlier, the Pentagon said its strikes targeted Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in retaliation for the killing of US personnel in Jordan on Friday.
One US service member remains missing following that attack, and the military said “unidentified remains” recovered on Sunday are undergoing identification.
The total number of US military fatalities since the outbreak of hostilities has reached 17.
The conflict, now in its second week, has largely involved US strikes on Iranian electrical facilities and bridges.
Outlining the objective of the continuing air campaign, US Central Command said, “The strikes will continue degrading Iranian military capabilities used to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz.”
The US offensive has also prompted a broader regional response from Tehran, which has carried out strikes against US-allied nations across the Middle East.
Air defense systems in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan were activated again to intercept incoming Iranian missiles and drones.
Meanwhile, Israel warned that missiles aimed at neighboring Jordan could cause the conflict to spill into Israeli territory for the first time in several weeks. (ANI)
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