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A container ship sustained heavy damage to its bridge after being fired upon by an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) gunboat 15 nautical miles northeast of Oman, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported.
The Master of the vessel reported that the ship was approached by one IRGC gunboat, which did not issue a VHF challenge before opening fire. In a post on X, it was confirmed that while the attack caused heavy damage to the bridge, no fires or environmental impacts have been reported. https://x.com/UK_MTO/status/2046813177220895098?s=20 All crew members on board the container ship are reported safe following the incident. In the aftermath of the encounter, UKMTO has advised vessels transiting the region to report any suspicious activity as maritime security remains a priority in the area. This incident follows a series of escalations on April 20, when Iranian forces launched drones towards US warships following an attack on an Iranian commercial vessel in the Sea of Oman, according to Al Jazeera. Conversely, the IRGC claimed that US forces stationed in the Sea of Oman were forced to retreat after firing at an Iranian merchant vessel. Citing the Mehr news agency, Press TV reported that US forces had targeted the Iranian ship in an attempt to compel it to return to Iranian territorial waters. The maritime confrontation has intensified amid the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the return of British and Indian merchant ships. The IRGC Navy stated that the Strait was closed after the United States allegedly continued a naval blockade on Iranian ports, which Tehran views as a violation of the ceasefire. The Hazrat Khatam al-Anbiya military headquarters has accused Washington of "violating the ceasefire and committing maritime piracy" after a US operation targeted an Iranian commercial vessel. This followed claims by US Central Command (CENTCOM) that the USS Spruance intercepted and disabled the Iranian-flagged vessel TOUSKA in the Arabian Sea after it allegedly violated the naval blockade. As tensions over critical shipping routes remain high, the IRGC has warned of retaliation against what it describes as "armed piracy" by the US military. The situation continues to evolve despite previous efforts to de-escalate, as the ceasefire has been extended, with both sides trading accusations over ceasefire violations and control of the global energy corridor. (ANI)
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