DUBAI (The Thursday Times) — An oil tanker caught fire in the eastern part of the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday after hitting a naval mine in a “restricted area”, Iran’s army said in a statement carried by state media.
The army did not name the vessel or say whether any crew were hurt. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have said that three oil tankers caught fire after striking mines while using an “unauthorised route” in the eastern part of the strait.
Late on Tuesday the UK Maritime Trade Operations centre said a tanker had been involved in an incident in the strait, citing military authorities, and that the status of the crew, the damage and any environmental impact were unknown. In a separate warning it said a tanker had been struck by an unidentified projectile about 19 nautical miles north-east of Limah in Oman, with the crew safe and no environmental damage reported.
The worst month for shipping
Maritime monitors have counted at least 37 attacks on ships in and near the strait so far in November, the highest monthly total since the war began on February 28. On Tuesday, a vessel operated by ADNOC was damaged in an attack inside UAE waters.
The strait has been largely closed since the United States and Israel attacked Iran. Iran’s security chief says it will stay shut until Washington meets Tehran’s conditions.
