‌🔻The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has announced that a tanker was targeted by an unidentified projectile 20 kilometers northeast of Lima in Oman.

According to a security official of the shipping company that owns the vessel, the impact damaged the tanker’s engine room and the other ship is no longer able to steer or continue its movement. The regional coast guard has been informed and the authorities are investigating the attack.

So far, no report has been released of casualties or environmental consequences. UKMTO has asked passing ships to proceed with caution and report any suspicious activity.

The incident comes as maritime tensions in the waters around Iran and Oman have increased, and in recent weeks several commercial vessels in the Gulf of Oman and near the Strait of Hormuz have been targeted by attacks.

Meanwhile, Iran has imposed restrictions on transit through the Strait of Hormuz, and the United States, with the deployment of naval forces in the area, has said it is taking action to preserve freedom of navigation. It is not yet clear which side was responsible for the attack on the tanker. 📷Anadolu via Getty