Oman rescues 25 from burning ship, Iran halts tankers

Oman rescued 25 sailors from a burning merchant ship after it was targeted in an attack, according to the country's Maritime Security Centre. This incident occurred as Iran reported that three oil tankers had been halted while crossing the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait, which typically accommodates about a fifth of global oil shipments, has become a battleground since the Middle East war began on February 28, with ships frequently coming under Iranian fire.

Oman's navy conducted the rescue operation, providing medical care to the affected crew members, though specific details were not disclosed. Meanwhile, US Central Command chief Brad Cooper announced that US forces had cleared the strait's primary transit routes of Iranian sea mines. He affirmed that US troops were present to ensure the Strait's critical shipping lanes remained unobstructed.

Cooper also highlighted that the US had assisted Gulf nations in exporting over 1.5 billion barrels of crude through the strait since the summer. Additionally, the British Maritime Security Agency reported that a ship approximately 40 nautical miles south of Lavan island in Iran experienced a fire onboard after being struck by an unknown projectile.

The vessel's crew was reported as safe, with no reported environmental impact at this time. Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed that three oil tankers were halted during their passage through the Strait, alleging that they had entered unauthorized routes and disregarded radio warnings. The Guards also mentioned that a supertanker carrying two million barrels of oil had stopped after an explosion while navigating an unauthorised route.

The US has retaliated to Iran's blockade of the Strait by implementing a counterblockade on Iranian ports, further limiting Tehran's capacity to export oil and engage in global trade.