War

An oil tanker was struck and disabled by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz off Oman early on August 25, a British shipping security monitor said, in the latest incident to hit shipping in the strategic waterway.United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the projectile damaged the vessels engine room, leaving it disabled, but that its crew was safe. The incident occurred nine nautical miles (16.7 kilometers) northeast of Ash Shishah, Oman. UKMTO did not identify the tanker or what flag it was sailing under.
Tehran has largely restricted passage through the strait since the United States and Israel struck Iran in late February, attacking vessels it accuses of circumventing its preferred shipping route.The attack comes amid persistent threats to shipping during the six-month conflict.The International Maritime Organization hasconfirmed 68 incidentsin the Persian Gulf and nearby waters -- an average of one every 2.6 days -- with at least 20 seafarers or port workers killed, 35 wounded, and one missing.Around half the incidents involved tankers. The rate slowed during peace talks but has risen since their collapse to one incident every 2.8 days.