Vessel hit by unidentified projectile in Persian Gulf

A vessel caught fire after being struck by an unidentified projectile approximately 74 kilometers south of Lavan Island, Iran, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The incident occurred on Friday at 18:00 UTC. The projectile reportedly struck the port side of the vessel, causing a fire, though all crew members are reported to be safe and no environmental damage has been documented.

While the UKMTO did not specify the name, type, or flag of the vessel, maritime tracking sources suggest the ship may be the Al Maida, a Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker that altered its course at the time of the incident. Authorities are currently investigating the event, and UKMTO has advised other vessels to proceed with caution and report any suspicious activity.