The United Nations has temporarily halted the rescue operation for over 11,000 seafarers stranded near the Hormuz Strait following an attack on a cargo vessel in the area. Arsenio Dominguez, head of the International Maritime Organization, stated that although many ships have been safely evacuated, the organization has taken this step to ensure all necessary security measures are in place before continuing the rescue of the remaining sailors.
According to the UK’s maritime security agency, UK Maritime Trade Operations, a projectile struck a cargo ship approximately 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Oman’s Duqm port. Fortunately, there have been no reports of human casualties from the incident. Maritime security firm Vanguard reported that the Singapore-flagged vessel, named Ever Lovely, successfully crossed the Hormuz Strait despite the attack and did not require any external assistance.
Amid escalating tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran, hundreds of ships and thousands of sailors have been stranded in the Gulf region since February. Following a prolonged deadlock and the reopening of the Hormuz Strait, the United Nations announced the launch of a rescue operation to safely evacuate the trapped seafarers. However, after just two days into the mission, another attack has cast uncertainty over this humanitarian effort.
