Oman’s navy rescued 25 crew members from a Panama-flagged commercial vessel on Friday after an attack triggered a fire off the coast of the northern Musandam governorate, the country’s Maritime Security Center said.
The Royal Navy, working alongside the Maritime Security Center, carried out the evacuation from the vessel, identified as RIT1, according to an official statement.
The ship was reportedly attacked approximately 1.6 nautical miles from the Musandam coastline, resulting in a fire onboard. Authorities confirmed that all 25 crew members received necessary medical assistance but did not clarify whether anyone had sustained injuries.
Officials did not disclose who was behind the attack or explain how it was carried out. The statement also provided no information about the damage to the vessel or whether the fire had been fully extinguished.
The incident occurred just hours after the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported an attack on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday evening. The vessel caught fire after being targeted with two explosive devices approximately 25 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman.
According to UKMTO, a small boat approached the tanker and attached two explosive devices to its hull above the waterline. The blasts triggered a fire in the engine room and temporarily left the vessel unable to operate.
These incidents have added to growing security concerns for commercial shipping across the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and nearby waterways, where several attacks and maritime security incidents have been reported in recent months.
The latest developments also come amid continuing tensions between Iran and the United States over navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage for international energy and commodity shipments.
The United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, followed by a ceasefire in April. However, hostilities between Washington and Tehran resumed in July as negotiations between the two sides remained deadlocked.
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