A tanker passing near the Strait of Hormuz was hit by an unidentified projectile and became unable to operate, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Aug. 1 local time.
According to Reuters, the UKMTO said a tanker came under attack at sea about 20 kilometers northeast of Lima, Oman, that day. The engine room was damaged, and it is currently unable to sail under its own power.
The waters where the incident occurred are at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Iran, after war broke out with the United States and Israel in February this year, declared control over the Strait of Hormuz, a key energy route, and has attacked merchant ships for failing to comply with its orders.
The strike on the vessel came as tensions were already high amid speculation that the United States and Israel were preparing large-scale airstrikes this weekend (Aug. 1–2) targeting Iran's energy infrastructure.