A tanker was hit by multiple projectiles about 51 nautical miles from Madinat al-Shamal in Qatar, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said.
Zoom in: The maritime intelligence firm Vanguard identified the vessel as the Acers, an Antigua and Barbuda flagged oil and chemical tanker reported on Saturday to be sailing toward the Strait of Hormuz.
By the numbers: At least 24 seafarers have been killed in 93 confirmed incidents since the war between Iran and the US and Israel began in February, according to the International Maritime Organization.
- The last incident that caused casualties was on 9 September, when two sailors were killed in an attack on the Panama flagged tanker El Gaia just north of Oman's Musandam peninsula.
The big picture: A fifth of global oil and gas shipments usually pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which was effectively closed after the war began because of Iranian missile and drone attacks on commercial vessels and a US naval blockade of Iranian ports.
The backstory: The US and Iran reached a preliminary agreement in June to end the war and reopen the strait, and it collapsed within weeks as Iranian attacks on shipping resumed and the US reinstated its blockade.
- Martin Kelly, head of advisory at EOS Risk Group, said this is the first reported attack on a ship this far west of the strait since 9 September.
Yes, but: Vanguard withdrew an earlier report of a fire aboard the Marshall Islands flagged Dhalkut east of Fujairah, saying there were no indications that a fire occurred.
Why it matters: Strikes this deep into the Gulf extend the danger well past the chokepoint that has absorbed most of the risk, and crews on routes once treated as the safer option are now exposed.
