Tanker hit in Hormuz: fire in the engine room, UKMTO reports two other ships also hit

A tanker was hit by an unidentified projectile in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, causing a fire in the engine room, the British UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre announced, according to the latest update of Al Jazeera‘s liveblog on the Iran war. The crew is fighting the flames and, according to the announcement, no casualties or environmental damage have been reported so far.

UKMTO also reported that at least two other ships had been hit by unknown projectiles earlier the same day, bringing the number to three ships hit within 24 hours in the world’s most important oil strait. The strikes come in a renewed wave of attacks on shipping, following the IRGC’s warning earlier today about the strait’s “southern corridor.”

The development clashes with Washington’s claim that the situation is under control: a senior U.S. official told Al Jazeera that the strait is open and that all naval mines have been removed or detonated, while Tehran insists that Hormuz will not reopen until the U.S. meets its seven conditions. The American blockade on Iran and the repeated attacks are keeping commercial traffic at critical levels.