What happened
A supertanker caught fire after being hit by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday. The incident occurred just hours after the US struck a ship attempting to break its naval blockade on Iran.
According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations, the attacked supertanker was hit on its port side, causing a fire to break out. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed that the tanker struck one of its naval mines and exploded.
The IRGC shared video of the tanker ablaze in the water and reiterated its threats against any ship attempting to cross the strait without its permission. The military unit stated that a devastating fire would be the fate of any tanker that violates the rules and disregards security in the Strait of Hormuz.
The US had earlier taken out a commercial cargo ship attempting to run the US's naval blockade against Iran. The ship, which had allegedly docked at an Iranian port, was struck by a US military fighter jet and fully disabled without harming the crew.
The incident is part of a series of attacks in the strait, with at least 11 tankers coming under attack in the week that ended Oct. 4, according to the United Nations' International Maritime Organization. Another 10 strikes occurred last week, including one that left 12 Indian sailors injured.
