Iranian and Russian naval forces simulate a hijacked ship rescue during a joint naval exercise at Bandar Abbas Port near the Strait of Hormuz in Hormozgan, Iran, February 19, 2026.
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Britain’s Maritime Trade Services Agency said on Wednesday that three ships off the coast of Iran had been attacked by projectiles, the latest in a series of incidents reported in or near the Strait of Hormuz.
One of the vessels was collided in the Strait of Hormuz, 11 nautical miles north of Oman, causing a fire on board and forcing the evacuation of the crew, UKMTO reported.
Two other incidents were reported on Wednesday morning, with one vessel struck by a projectile about 50 nautical miles northwest of Dubai and another damaged off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.
The UKMTO urged vessels sailing in the area to proceed with caution and report any suspicious activity while authorities continue to investigate.
Shipping traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz has come to a near standstill since the United States and Israel began airstrikes against Iran on February 28. Iran has retaliated by targeting ships attempting to pass through the strait, with several incidents reported in recent days.
The waterway is a narrow maritime corridor connecting the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Typically, about 20% of the world’s oil and gas passes through it.
U.S. forces sunk several Iranian vessels near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, including 16 minelayers, according to U.S. Central Command.
The update followed an earlier announcement by US President Donald Trump, who said that if Iran plants landmines in waterways, “we will demand that they be removed immediately.”
UKMTO announced that between February 28, when the war began, and March 11, it had received 17 reports of incidents affecting ships operating in and around the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman. These include 13 reports of attacks and four reports of suspicious activity.
