Two tankers hit by 'unknown projectiles' in Hormuz: security firm

"Unknown projectiles" struck two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz overnight, a Greek security firm said Tuesday, following a fresh flare-up in the US-Iran war.

Tehran has imposed an effective blockade of the strait since the United States and Israel launched their war in late February.

It says it wants to charge fees for passage and has attacked ships it accuses of attempting to circumvent its preferred route through the waterway.

In response, the United States has imposed a rival blockade of Iranian ports.

"Two crude oil tankers were struck by unknown projectiles within minutes of each other while transiting outbound through the Strait of Hormuz late on August 31," Greek maritime risk management firm Marisks said.

One of the incidents had been publicised earlier by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency, which added that no casualties or environmental effects had been reported.

Maritime security company Vanguard Tech identified the ship as the Liberia-flagged Senegal Prosperity.

"The rockets impacted the vessel's port side, engine room and ballast tank, resulting in a loss of communications," Vanguard said, adding that the crew were safe.

Marisks said the other ship was the Saudi Arabia-flagged Sidr crude oil tanker.

"The near-simultaneous incidents represent a further escalation in the threat environment within the Omani corridor," said Marisks.

Attacks on commercial ships in the strait, which was free to transit before the war, previously led to the collapse of an April ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

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