Two injured as tanker hit by unknown projectile in Strait of Hormuz: UKMTO

London, Sep 21 (IANS) Two crew members sustained minor injuries after a tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz was struck by an unknown projectile, the United Kingdom’s Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Monday.

Military authorities informed the UKMTO that the tanker was conducting an inbound transit when it was hit. The vessel was continuing to its next port of call under its own power, with no environmental impact reported at present.

Authorities are investigating the incident, the UKMTO said, advising vessels in the area to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The incident came three days after the UKMTO reported that another tanker had been hit by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, causing a fire onboard. All crew in that incident were reported safe.

The navy of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said early Friday a “violating” oil tanker that sought “illegal” passage through the Strait of Hormuz was struck the previous night and brought to a halt.

In a statement published on the IRGC’s official news outlet Sepah News, the navy said the Togo-flagged oil tanker, named “Trend,” was stopped after it caught fire following the strike.

The vessel attempted to cross the strait “illegally” after being “deceived and provoked” by the US Army, it said, warning that attempting illegal passage through the waterway will lead to nothing but “destruction,” Xinhua news agency reported.

The navy added that its forces are still in control of the Strait of Hormuz with strength and will not let passage by any “aggressor.”

Earlier, the IRGC said that a super oil tanker seeking to cross the Strait of Hormuz via the “forbidden” route south of the waterway exploded and caught fire after hitting naval mines.

In a statement on the IRGC’s official news outlet Sepah News, the navy said efforts to contain the fire on the tanker, identified as “EL GAIA,” were futile, and the entire vessel was engulfed in flames.

It added that warnings had been issued about the risks of using the “illegal” route in the strategic waterway, stressing that the strait remains closed and under the control of Iran’s naval forces.

–IANS

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