London, [UK], April 22 (ANI): The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has reported a fresh security incident involving an outbound cargo ship being fired upon in the waters off the Iranian coast. This marks a significant escalation in maritime hostilities, highlighting heightened tensions in the region's critical waterways.

In a post on X on Wednesday, the UKMTO Operations Centre issued a warning regarding the attack, which occurred approximately 8 nautical miles west of Iran. The report, sourced from a Company Security Officer, detailed that the master of the outbound vessel reported the ship was fired upon and has subsequently stopped in the water.

https://x.com/UK_MTO/status/2046856177288405045?s=20

Initial assessments confirm that the crew are safe and accounted for. Furthermore, there has been no reported damage to the vessel following the engagement.

The UKMTO stated it is aware of high levels of activity in the Strait of Hormuz area. Authorities have encouraged all vessels transiting the region to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately.

This development follows an earlier report from the UKMTO regarding an incident involving a container ship situated 15 nautical miles northeast of Oman, occurring amidst a surge of activity in regional waters.

In a post on X, the British maritime agency detailed the confrontation, noting that 'the master of a container ship reported that the vessel was approached by one IRGC gunboat,' which subsequently escalated the encounter.

https://x.com/UK_MTO/status/2046813177220895098?s=20

The UKMTO further noted that the Iranian vessel 'then fired upon the vessel' and 'caused heavy damage to the bridge' during the targeted strike.

Despite the intensity of the assault near Oman, the agency confirmed that there were 'no fires or environmental impact reported.' Additionally, following an assessment of the vessel's status, 'all crew reported safe,' with no casualties resulting from the engagement. (ANI)