Security tension was renewed in the Strait of Hormuz, today, Monday, after a marine tanker was targeted by an unidentified projectile while crossing the vital passage, resulting in two crew members being slightly injured, in an incident that comes amid a noticeable decline in commercial shipping traffic in the region.
The British Maritime Trade Operations Authority (UKMTO) reported, based on military sources, that the ship was struck during its entry into the strait, but the concerned authorities have not yet been able to determine the nature of the projectile or the party that launched it.
The authority confirmed that the tanker was able to continue its journey under its own power to the next port, noting that no leakage or environmental impact was recorded as a result of the accident. While the authority refrained from revealing the identity of the ship or the country flying its flag, it stressed that the competent authorities had begun investigations to determine the circumstances of the incident, calling on ships crossing the strait to exercise the utmost caution and immediately report any suspicious movements.
This attack comes at a time when maritime transport traffic is witnessing a sharp decline. Shipping sector data showed that only 17 primary goods ships crossed the corridor over the weekend, compared to 37 ships the previous week, while the normal rate before the outbreak of war was about 125 major commercial ships per day.
The Strait of Hormuz represents one of the most important and sensitive energy corridors in the world, which makes any security threat to navigation in it a pressing element that doubles international concerns about the safety of supply lines and the continued flow of oil and gas.
