The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on Saturday, August 1, 2026, two maritime incidents off the coast of Oman involving tankers near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

In the first incident, a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile approximately 11 nautical miles northeast of Oman’s Lima. The vessel sustained damage to its engine room and was left not under command, according to UKTMO. No casualties or environmental damage were reported.

Later, UKMTO received a second report of an incident 21 nautical miles northeast of Oman’s Khasab. The master of a tanker in this area reported witnessing a large splash and an explosion near the vessel, though no damage was observed.

Lima and Khasab are located on Oman’s Musandam Peninsula at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping chokepoint through which about one-fifth of global oil consumption passes. Recent weeks have seen increased security risks in the area, with vessels reporting incidents amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States.

No further details on the perpetrators or causes of the incidents have been provided.

Sources