'Unknown projectile' hits oil tanker off Oman: UKMTO

An oil tanker was struck by an unidentified/unknown projectile about 9 nautical miles northeast of Ash Shishah, Oman, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported early on Tuesday.

The impact damaged the engine room, disabling the vessel, UKMTO advisory/warning (referenced as Warning 120-26) stated.

The crew was reported safe; environmental impact was not immediately known.

Reports of the incident was covered by outlets including Arab News, Reuters, among others, consistent with the description.

The latest attack fits a pattern of multiple projectile strikes on commercial vessels (especially tankers) off Oman near the Strait of Hormuz / Musandam area throughout 2026 amid US-Iran hostilities.

UKMTO has issued repeated warnings of such incidents.

Earlier, Iran issued threats of retaliation around the same time (including warnings about oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz/Gulf and responses against countries cooperating with US measures) in reaction to new or intensified US economic pressure/sanctions.

The US has announced the “economic D-Day,” the “single greatest financial offensive,” secondary sanctions, and building on prior packages.

“Economic Fury” refers to an earlier US sanctions effort, including actions in mid-2026 targeting Iranian maritime-related entities.

A US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding (also known as the Islamabad MOU) was signed on June 17, 2026.

It addressed a ceasefire, reopening the Strait of Hormuz (with temporary no-charge transit provisions and dialogue involving Oman on future administration/maritime services), and a path toward broader talks.

By August 2026 it was widely described as expired, defunct, or in stalemate, with disputes centering on control/administration of the strait, compliance, blockades, and related issues. maritime-executive.com

The UKMTO statement itself is a factual maritime security advisory focused on the incident, crew status, and location.

Attribution of such attacks has often remained “unknown” or unclaimed in initial reports, though the broader conflict environment involves Iranian threats and prior strikes.