UKMTO reports two tanker incidents off Oman as Kuwait says it intercepts Iranian drones

Jerusalem Post/Middle EastIn the first incident, a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile about 11 nautical miles northeast of Oman's Lima. Later the master of a tanker reported seeing a large splash and an explosion.Follow us on GoogleA vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, July 16, 2026(photo credit: REUTERS/STRINGER)ByJERUSALEM POST STAFFAUGUST 1, 2026 10:31Updated: AUGUST 1, 2026 12:18The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Saturday it had received reports of two maritime incidents off Oman, including one in which a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile.In the first incident, a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile about 11 nautical miles northeast of Oman's Lima, damaging its engine room and leaving the vessel not under command, UKMTO said. There were no reported casualties or environmental impact, it added.Later, UKMTO said it had received a second report of an incident, 21 nautical miles northeast of Oman's Khasab. The master of a tanker reported seeing a large splash and an explosion in close proximity to the vessel, though no damage was reported.Lima and Khasab are on Oman's Musandam Peninsula at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic shipping chokepoint through which about a fifth of global oil consumption passes.Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has faced heightened risks in recent weeks, with vessels reporting security incidents and some shipowners adopting additional precautions as Iran and the United States stepped up hostilities.Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, June 18, 2026. (credit: REUTERS/STRINGER/FILE PHOTO)Kuwait intercepts Iranian drone attacksKuwait's army said on Saturday it had detected and destroyed hostile drones in the country's airspace since dawn, and that what it described as an Iranian attack had targeted several vital facilities.A government facility in northern Kuwait and civilian property belonging to a company on Bubiyan Island were hit, it said, adding that falling shrapnel caused material damage but no casualties.Follow us on Google