WANA (Jul 12) – The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has reported that a container ship was struck in the southern waters of the Strait of Hormuz, following reports of attacks on two vessels and the subsequent closure of the strategic waterway.

 

According to the UKMTO, the incident occurred approximately nine nautical miles east of Oman. The organization said the stern of the container ship was hit, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel. All crew members are currently aboard lifeboats.

 

Earlier, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy announced that it had targeted a vessel it described as “non-compliant,” claiming it ignored repeated warnings and attempted to transit through an unauthorized route with foreign backing. Hours later, the IRGC reported that a second vessel had also been struck.

 

Following these developments, authorities announced that the Strait of Hormuz has been closed to maritime traffic, citing security concerns and stating that the closure will remain in effect until U.S. military intervention in the region comes to an end.