Abu Dhabi, March 22 — British maritime authorities say a commercial bulk carrier reported an explosion near the Strait of Hormuz after being struck by an unidentified projectile off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued an advisory saying the incident took place about 15 nautical miles north of Sharjah, with the vessel’s master reporting an explosion close to the ship.
Authorities confirmed there were no casualties and all crew members are reported safe. Investigations are under way. UKMTO advised ships to transit the area with caution and to report any suspicious activity.
No group has claimed responsibility and the source of the projectile has not been identified. The incident occurs amid heightened regional tensions after Iran has reportedly targeted vessels linked to the United States and Israel, disrupting oil and gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that handles nearly one-fifth of global energy supplies.
The strike followed a public warning from US President Donald Trump, who wrote: “If Iran doesn’t fully open, without threat, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 hours from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various power plants, starting with the biggest one first!”
G7 foreign ministers have also signalled readiness to act to protect energy flows, saying they “express support to our partners in the region” and characterising recent attacks as acts of aggression by Iran and its proxies.
This report is sourced from a syndicated feed and published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility for its accuracy, completeness, or content.
