Container ship catches fire off Oman after damage; crew abandons vessel as Iran claims second vessel intercepted in Hormuz

MUSCAT, Jul 12: A container ship caught fire after sustaining damage in an incident approximately 9 nautical miles east of Oman, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

UKMTO said military authorities reported that the vessel suffered damage to its stern, triggering a fire onboard.

In an updated advisory, UKMTO said it had been informed by military authorities and the ship's Company Security Officer (CSO) that the crew had abandoned the vessel and were safely embarked in a lifeboat.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident, and no information has yet been released on the cause of the damage or the condition of the crew. UKMTO advised all vessels transiting the area to exercise extreme caution and report any suspicious activity.

Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it had intercepted and stopped a second vessel in the Strait of Hormuz as part of what it described as retaliation for continued US attacks on Iranian military positions.

In a statement carried by Iranian state media, the IRGC also claimed it had launched ballistic missiles at the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, saying the strikes targeted the base's command center and fighter aircraft maintenance center. The claims have not been independently verified.