Bangkok, March 11 (SANA) A Thai-flagged cargo ship was attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the Thai navy said Wednesday, adding that 20 crew members were rescued while three remain missing.
“The Thai-flagged cargo ship Mayuri Nari was attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz,” AFP quoted the navy as saying in a statement. Authorities said the cause of the attack remains under investigation.
The navy said the vessel was carrying 23 sailors. Twenty were rescued by the Omani navy, while search efforts were continuing for the remaining three crew members.
Photographs released by the Thai navy showed black smoke rising from the vessel as lifeboats surrounded it.
Earlier Wednesday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said three ships had been struck by unidentified projectiles off the coast of the United Arab Emirates and in the Strait of Hormuz. It was not immediately clear whether the incident involving the Thai ship was linked to one of those vessels.
The attack comes amid heightened tensions in the Gulf region following the outbreak of fighting between the United States, Israel and Iran on February 28, which has included drone and missile attacks targeting vessels in the Gulf and the Arabian Sea.
