Cargo Ship Set Ablaze in Strait of Hormuz After Vessels Struck by ‘Unknown Projectiles’

A Thai-flagged cargo ship caught fire in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz after being struck by unidentified projectiles, prompting an emergency rescue operation involving regional naval forces.

According to the Royal Thai Navy, the vessel was carrying 23 Thai crew members when it came under attack while sailing through the narrow shipping route that links the Arabian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman.

The navy said it received the first report of the incident at around 11:00, although the time zone was not specified. The ship had departed earlier from Khalifa Port in the United Arab Emirates.

Rescue efforts were quickly launched, with the Royal Navy of Oman successfully rescuing 20 crew members. Authorities said efforts were continuing to locate and rescue the remaining three sailors.

The Thai navy confirmed that the cause of the attack remains under investigation and did not provide details about who might be responsible.

Meanwhile, the UK Maritime Trade Operations reported a sharp rise in security incidents affecting vessels in the region since the start of the latest conflict in the Middle East.

According to the organisation, 13 ships have been attacked across the region so far. It has also recorded four additional cases of suspicious activity, bringing the total number of maritime security incidents to 17 involving vessels operating in and around the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman.

The update follows reports that three commercial vessels were struck by “unknown projectiles” in separate incidents earlier in the day. In one case, a ship north of Oman was hit, forcing its crew to abandon the vessel for safety.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical shipping corridors, with a significant portion of global oil supplies passing through the narrow waterway each day. Rising tensions and attacks on vessels have heightened concerns about maritime security and the potential impact on global energy supplies.