The ship was hit early on Wednesday, March 11 off the coast of the United Arab Emirates in the Strait of Hormuz. The strait has been a major point of contention during the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. It is unclear who carried out the strike and to whom the ship belonged.
The conflict in the Middle East has entered its twelfth day on Wednesday after joint US and Israel forces struck key sites in Iran late last month. Iran has responded but attacking sites across the region, plunging the Middle East into war.
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Ships in the strait have effectively halted all traffic through the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre issued the warning, saying the attack happened off Ras al-Khaimah, the UAE’s northern-most emirate on the strait.
« Extent of the damage is currently unknown but under investigation by the crew, » UKMTO said.
All crew members are safe and accounted for.
About one fifth of all oil and natural gas traded moves through the Strait of Hormuz.
US President Trump has warned Iran against targetting oil moving through the strait.
He wrote in a post on social media on Monday that if Iran stopped the flow of oil through the strait, it would be met with wrath.
The post read: « If Iran does anything that stops the flow of Oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far. »
« Additionally, we will take out easily destroyable targets that will make it virtually impossible for Iran to ever be built back, as a Nation, again—Death, Fire, and Fury will reign upon them—But I hope, and pray, that it does not happen! »
Sources familiar with US intelligence have also said that Iran has begun laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. The mining is reportedly not extensive, CBS reported, with a few dozen laid in recent days, the sources said.
Mr Trump said in response that there would military consequences if Iran has put out any mines in the strait.
He wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform: « If Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz Strait, and we have no reports of them doing so, we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY! »
« If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before. If, on the other hand, they remove what may have been placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction! President DONALD J. TRUMP. »
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