A UK agency revealed that a cargo ship in the Persian Gulf was struck by a mysterious object that caused a severe explosion, damaging the vessel. There is no confirmation yet of any injuries or deaths.
On 1 Jun 2026 GMT+7, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a maritime security organization operated by the UK military, disclosed that a cargo ship traveling through the northern Persian Gulf was attacked with an unidentified explosive device.
UKMTO stated that the incident occurred approximately 40 miles southeast of Iraq's Umm Qasr port.
"A cargo ship was sailing through the Arabian Gulf when a powerful explosion occurred after an unidentified explosive object struck the starboard side of the vessel," UKMTO reported, adding, "At this time, UKMTO has not received any reports of environmental impact, and officials are currently investigating."
UKMTO further revealed that in the three months leading up to 26 May, the agency received reports of 52 incidents affecting ships in and around the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman, including 28 confirmed attacks and 22 suspected attacks.
These periodic attacks on cargo ships in the Persian Gulf have led most shipping companies to suspend operations in the region, impacting the transport of critical global goods, particularly oil.
. cnn