Three tankers struck within hours in Hormuz, Qatar slams Iran

AI Summary

Three tankers, including a Qatari LNG vessel, were attacked within hours in the Strait of Hormuz, sparking condemnation from Qatar calling the assaults 'unacceptable' and urging Iran to cease actions that threaten maritime security. The attacks raise concerns about navigation freedom in this strategic waterway.

Three tankers struck within hours in Hormuz, Qatar slams Iran Three tankers, including a Qatari LNG vessel, were struck within hours in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting peace mediator Doha to denounce an "unacceptable" Iranian attack. An "unknown projectile" hit a tanker overnight, causing a fire, before two more were hit, at least one by a drone, the British maritime security agency UKMTO said. Earlier in the day, citing anonymous sources, Iran's national broadcaster IRIB said an oil tanker attempting to pass through the Omani route in the Strait of Hormuz was attacked "after ignoring repeated warnings". The string of attacks after more than a week of respite revived concerns about freedom of navigation. All three vessels were struck close to Oman.  Oman had proposed a temporary transit corridor hugging its coastline in an initiative opposed by Iran, which wants to charge ships using the narrow waterway. Qatar, which helped broker the truce, urged Tehran to "cease all practices that undermine regional security or threaten the safety of international maritime navigation". (Reporting by AFP)