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The status of the crew, the extent of damage to the vessel and any potential environmental impact were not immediately known.
Vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam (File image/Reuters)
A vessel was struck by an unknown projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said early on Sunday.
According to the UKMTO, the status of the crew, the extent of damage to the vessel and any potential environmental impact were not immediately known.
The British maritime security agency did not provide further details about the vessel or identify the source of the projectile.
The latest incident comes amid heightened security concerns and a series of attacks and disruptions involving commercial shipping in and around the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz in recent weeks.
The UKMTO report came a day after Saudi Arabia announced the temporary closure of its East-West pipeline as a precaution following a drone attack. Both Baghdad and Riyadh said the drone originated in Iraq, where Iranian-backed militias operate.
The widening Middle East war has raised concerns that continued attacks could push energy prices even higher. Brent crude had already surged back above $100 a barrel during the week.
Stretching 1,200 km (745 miles) across the Arabian Peninsula, the East-West pipeline has been the main route for global supplies of Middle East oil over the past six months, as the Strait of Hormuz remained largely shut due to the war.
The pipeline has been transporting between 4 million and 5 million barrels per day, equivalent to around 4 per cent to 5 per cent of global supply. This has helped Saudi Arabia avoid the extent of disruption faced by other Gulf oil and gas exporters.
No group had immediately claimed responsibility for the strikes targeting the pipeline.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry said the attack caused some injuries and damage, which were being assessed. It did not provide details on the impact on oil exports.
US President Donald Trump, who was in Ireland to attend a golf tournament at one of his resorts, said Iran was probably responsible.
Meanwhile, the Saudi Civil Defence said on Saturday that a projectile fired by the Houthis injured two people in the Jazan region. Several buildings, including a mosque, were also damaged, according to a statement.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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Ask News18According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the status of the crew, the extent of damage to the vessel, and any potential environmental impact were not immediately known following the strike.
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Aanchal is the Sub-Editor at News18.com, with more than four years of experience in national and international news. My work involves covering breaking news, politics, current affairs and developments…Read More
September 13, 2026, 07:38 IST
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