DUBAI: Concerns over the security of energy supplies have intensified after a vessel travelling through the Strait of Hormuz was reportedly struck by a projectile, adding to growing tensions across the region.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), an agency affiliated with the British Navy, said it had received a report that a vessel was hit while transiting the strategic waterway. The extent of the damage and the condition of the crew were not immediately known.
The incident came a day after Saudi Arabia temporarily shut down its approximately 1,200-kilometre East-West oil pipeline as a precautionary measure. The pipeline transports around 4 million to 5 million barrels of oil per day, equivalent to roughly 4% to 5% of global supply.
Saudi authorities said the pipeline closure was precautionary, while Baghdad and Riyadh have blamed Iran-backed groups operating in Iraq for a separate drone attack. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.
US President Donald Trump has also suggested that Iran may have been involved in the pipeline attack.
Meanwhile, Saudi Civil Defence reported that two people were injured in Jazan after a projectile fired by the Houthis struck the area. Several buildings, including a mosque, were also damaged.
The latest developments have raised concerns that prolonged regional tensions could put further pressure on global energy markets. Brent crude prices had already climbed above $100 a barrel last week.
