Concerns over maritime security in the Gulf have spiked after an unidentified projectile off the UAE hit a UK-flagged bulk carrier. The UK maritime agency reported that the incident took place 15 nautical miles north of Sharjah—placing the vessel uncomfortably close to the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has advised all vessels in the area to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity immediately.
Fortunately, all crew members are reported to be safe, but the incident has triggered heightened alertness across the region.
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The 'attack' on the commercial vessel comes at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East due to the US-Israel conflict with Iran. The spill over of the US-Iran war has been hurting the Gulf countries since February 28.
The UAE said it faced aerial attacks from Iran after the nation warned against allowing strikes from disputed islands near the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The islands of Abu Musa and Greater Tunb, controlled by Iran but claimed by the UAE, have long been a source of dispute between the two countries.
Amid the rising tensions, the UK has deployed its nuclear-powered submarine, HMS Anson, with Tomahawk missiles in the Arabian Sea. The move comes amid the ongoing blockade over the Strait of Hormuz by Iran.
The reported launch of two intermediate-range ballistic missiles toward the joint US-UK base at Diego Garcia has fundamentally challenged previous assumptions about Iran's military reach. By targeting a facility nearly 4,000 kilometres away, Tehran has effectively shattered its own publicly stated 2,000-kilometre self-imposed missile limit.
Twenty-two nations, including the UK, have jointly condemned Iran's attacks on ships in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz closure.