More attacks on merchant vessels have been reported at the Strait of Hormuz in recent days, with many of the incidents occurring along shipping routes near the Omani side of the strait.
In a statement on Friday, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) said that since the beginning of the U.S. and Israel's conflict with Iran, 15 of its vessels have been attacked by missiles and drones while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, including three attacked this week. These incidents have left one crew member dead and 20 others injured.
In close coordination with the relevant authorities, ADNOC is taking all necessary measures to protect its personnel, assets and operations, and meet its customer requirements as much as possible, the statement reads.
A merchant vessel caught fire after being struck near the eastern entrance of the Strait of Hormuz, according to a recording of ship-to-ship radio communications provided by a seafarer on Friday evening, London Time.
The recording, transmitted over an open maritime radio channel, showed crew members battling a fire and urgently requesting assistance.
According to the communications, the vessel was near the Omani coast when it was struck, sparking a fire in the engine room.
The crew had activated the ship's on-board carbon dioxide fire suppression system and attempted to control the blaze. Firefighting efforts were complicated by a failure of the ship's hydraulic system, the recording indicated.
In another segment of the communications, several nearby vessels said they were heading toward the site to provide assistance.
More attacks on merchant vessels reported in Strait of Hormuz
More attacks on merchant vessels reported in Strait of Hormuz
Military clashes have escalated in western Yemen, with reports of intense fighting between Houthi forces and so‑called Saudi‑backed "mercenaries" in Al‑Hawk district in the northern part of Hodeidah province, Iran's Tasnim News Agency reported on Saturday.
UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg on Friday warned of a growing risk of renewed large-scale conflict in Yemen amid escalating attacks by the Houthi group against Saudi tankers and Yemeni government forces.
In a statement, Grundberg pointed to the latest attacks by the Houthis in the provinces of Marib and Hadramout, which reportedly caused significant casualties, including civilians, as well as "attacks on commercial shipping" in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
He expressed concern over strikes on civilian infrastructure including airports, and the broader escalation of regional tensions.
Taken together, these developments risk jeopardizing gains from the 2022 truce, Grundberg said, warning that they could draw Yemen into "a broader regional confrontation."
Grundberg noted he had held intensive discussions in recent weeks with Yemeni parties, regional actors and international partners to explore options for de-escalation.
He called on all parties to exercise "maximum restraint," halt actions that could trigger military retaliation and engage in good-faith negotiations under UN auspices.
Yemen has been mired in conflicts since late 2014, when the Houthis seized much of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in 2015 in support of the internationally recognized Yemeni government.
A UN-brokered truce that took effect in April 2022 expired in October that year without a formal extension, though a fragile de facto ceasefire has largely held since then.
The Houthi group announced a maritime ban on Saudi shipping in July, citing what it called a Saudi blockade against Houthi-controlled areas, a claim that Riyadh has firmly rejected.
Military clashes escalate in western Yemen: report
