The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said on Wednesday that injuries were reported after a tanker was targeted with several projectiles off the coast of Qatar, in an incident that occurred 51 nautical miles north of the Qatari city of Al Shamal. In a navigational warning, the agency said it had received a report of the incident at 19:00 GMT.
Investigation into tanker injuries and warning to vessels
It added that the vessel had reported being struck by several projectiles and that the attack had caused injuries, without specifying the number of injured people or the nature of their injuries. The agency said the relevant authorities had begun investigating the circumstances of the incident. It also advised vessels in the area to transit with caution and urged them to report any suspicious activity while sailing. The agency did not disclose the identity of the targeted tanker or the flag it was flying.
No party had claimed responsibility for the attack by the time the navigational warning was issued. The incident comes as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is witnessing tensions between Iran and the United States.
The strait is a strategic route for energy and goods supplies, while managing maritime traffic through it is one of the main issues being negotiated between Tehran and Washington, amid differing positions between the two sides. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said on Tuesday that an oil tanker had been struck by a projectile of unknown origin while sailing towards the exit of the Strait of Hormuz.
