Tanker off Qatar reports multiple projectile hits: UKMTO

A tanker sailing off the north coast of Qatar reported being struck by multiple projectiles on Wednesday, causing an unspecified number of casualties, the UKMTO maritime agency said.

The British agency said the incident took place 51 nautical miles, or 94 kilometres, off Qatar and that authorities were investigating. It did not specify the origin of the ship.

The reported attack was about 500 kilometres from the Strait of Hormuz. Ships in the Gulf and vessels trying to transit the strait have come under repeated attack since the United States and Israel began a war with Iran in late February.

Iran has blockaded the strait and fired on vessels it accuses of unauthorised crossings. The United States has set up a counterblockade of Iranian ports and has fired on vessels linked to Tehran.