Projectile hits tanker off Oman coast, minor damage reported
11:07, 17/07/2026, FridayU: Update: 11:08, 17/07/2026, Friday
AA
File photo
An unknown projectile struck a tanker off the coast of Oman, causing minor damage to its port side, UK maritime authorities reported. The vessel's crew is safe, and it continues to its destination. The incident occurred amid heightened regional tensions following US-Iran attacks.
A tanker has been struck by an unidentified projectile off the coast of Oman, causing minor structural damage, the UK Maritime Trade Operations reported on Friday. The incident occurred 19 nautical miles east of Khasab, with the projectile hitting the vessel's port side.
Crew Safety and Investigation
All crew members were reported safe, and the vessel was continuing to its next port of call. Authorities are investigating the incident. The attack comes amid escalating regional tensions, with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claiming responsibility for strikes on radar sites in Oman earlier on Friday, including a US air-control radar.
Context of Regional Tensions
The attack follows a sixth consecutive night of US offensive strikes on Iranian military assets, as the conflict over the Strait of Hormuz intensifies. Despite a Pakistan-brokered memorandum of understanding signed last month, both sides have continued to exchange attacks, with the Gulf region increasingly drawn into the confrontation.