Second vessel fired upon in Strait of Hormuz as tensions escalate

A second commercial vessel has come under fire in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), heightening concerns over security in one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes.

The UKMTO reported that an outbound cargo ship was fired upon approximately eight nautical miles west of Iran. The vessel has since stopped in the water, but authorities confirmed there was no reported damage and all crew members are safe and accounted for.

In an updated advisory, the UKMTO warned of “high levels of activity” across the Strait of Hormuz and urged vessels transiting the area to remain vigilant and report any suspicious incidents.

The latest episode follows a separate attack earlier in the region, in which a container ship was targeted roughly 15 nautical miles northeast of Oman. That incident, attributed to a gunboat operated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reportedly caused significant damage to the vessel’s bridge.

The back-to-back incidents underscore growing instability in the strategic waterway, a vital corridor for global energy shipments, as maritime authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.