Strait of Hormuz ship hit by unknown projectile

A ship in the Strait of Hormuz was struck by an “unknown projectile” on Monday evening, sparking a fire that was later extinguished, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre said Tuesday.

UKMTO said the crew were safe and the vessel was underway. It said there was no reported environmental impact or damage assessment.

The Strait of Hormuz is at the centre of the Middle East war between Iran and the United States. Around a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passed through the shipping lane before the war. Since the conflict began, Tehran has been blocking commercial ships and firing on vessels it accuses of unauthorised crossings, while Washington has responded with a counterblockade of Iranian ports aimed at preventing Iranian oil exports.