The Ship Attack Incident Spreads from the Strait of Hormuz to Waters Near Iraq

Xinhua News Agency, London, October 21 (Reporter Gao Wencheng) - The UK Maritime Trade Operations Office reported on the 21st that tanker attack incidents occurred in waters near Iraq and near Oman. Recently, the incidents of attacking vessels have spread from the Strait of Hormuz to waters near Iraq.

The report stated that at Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) 18:30 on the 20th (Beijing Time 2:30 on the 21st), a tanker was hit by an unidentified projectile 30 nautical miles (about 56 kilometers) southeast of Fao in southern Iraq. The captain reported that the crew was safe, and there were no reports of damage to the vessel or environmental impact.

Fao is located at the northwestern end of the Persian Gulf. The waters nearby are an important passage for vessels entering and exiting southern Iraqi ports and offshore oil export facilities, and are relatively far from the Strait of Hormuz.

According to another report, at UTC 1:45 on the 21st (Beijing Time 9:45 on the 21st), a tanker was hit by an unidentified projectile and caught fire 11 nautical miles (about 20 kilometers) west of Bukhah in Oman. Local authorities reported that the fire has been extinguished, the tanker is currently at anchor, all crew members are safe, and there are no reports of environmental impact.

Bukhah is located on the western side of the Musandam Peninsula in Oman, near the western entrance of the Strait of Hormuz.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations Office stated that relevant authorities are investigating the aforementioned incidents and reminded passing vessels to navigate cautiously and report suspicious activities in a timely manner. Neither report disclosed the name of the attacked tanker or the party responsible for the attack.

Previously, incidents of attacking vessels mainly occurred within the Strait of Hormuz, but recently they have spread to waters near countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates outside the strait.