Strait Of Hormuz Vessel Strike: UKMTO Reports Unknown Projectile Impact During Transit

A vessel was struck by an “unknown projectile” while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), as concerns grew over threats to shipping and energy supplies amid the widening Middle East conflict. UKMTO said it had received a report of a projectile hitting the vessel, but the extent of damage and the condition of the crew were not immediately known.

The incident came a day after Saudi Arabia temporarily shut its East-West oil pipeline as a precaution following a drone attack. Baghdad and Riyadh said the drone had originated in Iraq, where Iran-backed militias operate. The 1,200-kilometre East-West pipeline is a critical alternative route for Saudi oil exports, particularly as disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz have affected regional energy shipments.

The pipeline has reportedly been carrying between four million and five million barrels of oil per day, equivalent to roughly four to five per cent of global supply. Its disruption, combined with attacks affecting shipping routes, has added pressure to already elevated energy prices. Brent crude prices climbed above $100 a barrel during the week, while disruptions have also affected other major oil and gas exporters in the Gulf.

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There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack on the pipeline. Saudi authorities reported injuries and damage following the incident, while satellite imagery indicated smoke rising from an area of the pipeline south of Medina. Separately, Saudi Civil Defence said a projectile fired by Yemen’s Houthis injured two people in the Jazan region and damaged several buildings, including a mosque. US President Donald Trump said Iran was probably responsible for the pipeline attack.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has also sought US military assistance in dealing with the Houthis, according to sources cited by Reuters. Trump confirmed speaking with the Saudi leader but said Washington would not directly intervene for now and would instead provide intelligence support. Yemeni government sources also said the Houthis had seized Perim island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, another strategically important maritime route connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.

Meanwhile, Iran is due to attend a meeting with Gulf Arab states in Oman on Monday to discuss the future of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials have played down expectations of an immediate breakthrough, while reports indicate Tehran has linked any reopening of the strait to conditions it has presented to Washington. The latest vessel incident, together with the broader regional attacks, has intensified uncertainty surrounding one of the world’s most important energy and shipping corridors.

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