Oil Tanker Hit by Projectiles Off Qatar, Causing Casualties
A tanker sailing off the northern coast of Qatar reported being hit by several projectiles, causing an unspecified number of casualties, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) announced Wednesday.
The agency said the incident occurred 51 nautical miles (94 kilometers) off the Qatari coast, and that authorities are investigating. It did not specify the tanker's nationality.
The incident on Wednesday occurred about 300 miles (500 kilometers) from the Strait of Hormuz, where several ships have been attacked amid the war in the Middle East.
This sea lane, through which one-fifth of the world's energy supplies passed before the war, is at the heart of the Middle East conflict that erupted in late February with US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
Since then, Tehran has restricted navigation in the strait, targeting ships that sail through it without its permission.
Washington responded to Iran's disruption of traffic in the strait by blockading Iranian ports, and its naval vessels are now escorting an increasing number of oil tankers through Hormuz, while negotiations to end the war are at a standstill.
Source: AFP
