Strait of Hormuz Tensions Surge
Container Ship Catches Fire Off Oman Amid Rising Strait of Hormuz Tensions, Crew Evacuates
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Key Points
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UKMTO reported the incident occurred nine nautical miles east of Oman, with the crew abandoning the vessel and taking refuge in lifeboats as authorities continue investigations.
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The IRGC announced the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until further notice due to security concerns, described as a response to unlawful intervention in West Asia.
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IRGC Navy later said it had struck and halted a vessel that had jeopardized maritime security by switching off its systems while attempting to transit the area.
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CENTCOM described the third round of strikes as following an IRGC attack on the Cyprus-flagged M/V GFS Galaxy, noting Iran was given a chance to comply with a Memorandum of Understanding but again failed; US officials characterized the move as a heavy response.
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Reports note the vessel was travelling along the shoreline route of Oman to transit the Strait of Hormuz, illustrating how ships have been navigating near the coast to avoid Iranian territorial waters.
A Cyprus-flagged container ship caught fire and was abandoned by its crew after an Iranian strike nine nautical miles east of Oman, according to LBC. The crew escaped into lifeboats as the vessel, identified as the M/V GFS Galaxy, suffered significant engine-room damage and an onboard fire, with at least one civilian crew member reported missing.
The attack triggered a third round of U.S. strikes against Iran in a single week, according to The Olympian. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps then announced the Strait of Hormuz — a waterway carrying roughly 20% of the world's oil — would remain closed "until further notice."
IRGC Missile Strike Forces Crew Overboard
The IRGC fired a missile at the GFS Galaxy as it traveled along Oman's shoreline, Daily Beirut reported. Ships have been hugging that coastal route to avoid Iranian territorial waters in the strait. The strike caused a fire and left the engine room heavily damaged. At least one crew member is unaccounted for.
UKMTO, the UK body that monitors maritime security in the region, confirmed the crew abandoned ship and took refuge in lifeboats. The IRGC Navy said it struck the vessel because it had switched off its tracking systems while trying to transit the area — a move Iran called a threat to maritime security, according to LBC.
US Launches Third Round of Iran Strikes in a Week
U.S. Central Command said the GFS Galaxy attack was the trigger for a new wave of American strikes on Iran — the third in seven days, according to Albeu. CENTCOM noted Iran had been given a chance to comply with a Memorandum of Understanding on shipping safety but failed to do so again. U.S. officials called the response "heavy."
Vijesti reported that President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire between the two countries was over before the latest strikes began. Iran responded by firing missiles and drones at U.S. facilities across Gulf states, marking a sharp escalation in an already volatile standoff.
Strait of Hormuz Shut Down, Shipping Routes in Chaos
Iran's IRGC announced the Strait of Hormuz is closed "until further notice," citing what it called unlawful foreign intervention in West Asia, according to LBC. The strait is one of the world's most critical oil chokepoints. Any prolonged closure would disrupt global energy markets significantly.
Commercial vessels have already been rerouting along Oman's coastline to avoid Iranian waters, Daily Beirut reported. That strategy failed for the GFS Galaxy. With the strait now officially closed and U.S.-Iran exchanges intensifying, shipping companies face mounting risks and no clear safe path through the region.
Iran Denies Wrongdoing as Investigations Continue
Iran has denied acting unlawfully. The IRGC said it acted to protect maritime security, not threaten it, according to Albeu. Iranian officials framed the ship's behavior — switching off its tracking systems — as the provocation. They did not address the missing crew member or the civilian casualties.
UKMTO and military authorities are still monitoring the scene. Investigations are ongoing into the fire and the crew's condition. The Olympian noted that both sides continue to trade accusations, with no sign of a return to the ceasefire that collapsed earlier this week.
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