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A tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, igniting a fire aboard the vessel, a British maritime security agency reported.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre, which monitors shipping threats in the region, said the vessel was hit by an "unknown projectile" that resulted in a fire. The agency said the ship's crew had been reported safe, though the extent of the damage remained unclear.
UKMTO did not disclose the tanker's flag registration, its intended route, or whether it was carrying crude oil or liquefied natural gas.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula, has long served as one of the world's most critical energy corridors, with roughly a fifth of global oil and LNG shipments passing through it before hostilities escalated.
The strait has remained a focal point of tension since the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran in late February.
Since then, Iranian forces have moved to block commercial vessels from transiting the waterway, firing on ships it has accused of crossing without authorization.
The United States, in turn, has imposed a counterblockade on Iranian ports aimed at curbing Tehran's ability to export oil.
Washington has not carried out strikes on Iranian targets since September 1. Despite that pause in direct military action, vessels transiting the strait continue to come under regular attack.
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