Iran's military says four oil tankers were hit by explosions in the Strait of Hormuz after they entered areas it considers restricted. The attacks continue even as traffic rebounds and oil prices fall on expectations of de-escalation in the war between the United States and Iran.
Iran's military said on Thursday that four oil tankers were hit by explosions in the Strait of Hormuz. It said the vessels had ignored warnings and entered what it considers restricted areas of the waterway. Reuters could not immediately verify the Iranian account.
Tankers still face attacks across the strait, despite a rebound in traffic and expectations of a de-escalation that have been reflected in falling oil prices.
Iran blames mines and ignored warnings
Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy said two supertankers were disabled by explosions on Wednesday after they ignored warnings against using what it called an unauthorised route. Iranian state media reported that the two vessels exploded after hitting naval mines, and broadcast what it said was video footage.
Iran's army later said two other tankers hit mines on Thursday afternoon in the eastern Strait of Hormuz, state TV reported. According to that report, the tankers ignored warnings and disabled their radar systems, then caught fire after entering a restricted area.
Other accounts point to unknown projectiles
Earlier in the war, which began in February, the Revolutionary Guards Navy announced its attacks on tankers. More recently, however, it has reported that vessels caught fire after hitting naval mines in the southern part of the strait, which it has declared an unauthorised route.
In several of those cases, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO) has said vessels were struck by unknown projectiles. In reports on Thursday, the UKMTO said a vessel was hit by an unidentified projectile about 14 nautical miles northwest of Ras Al-Khaimah on Wednesday while exiting the strait, causing a fire in its engine room. All crew were evacuated.
According to data from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, at least 10 ships were hit in the first 10 days of November, after 37 attacks in October, the highest monthly tally since the conflict began in late February.
Source: Reuters via Investing.com
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