Mystery projectile punches hole in vessel off Oman coast

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said Monday a vessel was struck by an unknown projectile roughly 9 nautical miles northeast of Lima, Oman. The impact blew a hole in the ship's starboard side. Despite that, the vessel and its crew came through safe, and no environmental damage was reported.

UKMTO advised vessels to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity while authorities investigate. No one has claimed responsibility for the strike yet. The waters off Oman are a critical corridor for global shipping, making any attack a serious concern.

The strike lands amid a sharp escalation in the Yemen war. The European Union condemned continued Houthi attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas demanding all Houthi military action 'must end immediately.' The EU also called on the group's backers, including Iran, to pull support, and said it will boost aid to Yemen's government as over 22 million people need assistance.

Over the weekend, the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen's government shot down two drones over Riyadh, spokesperson Turki al-Maliki said. The coalition also intercepted a Houthi ballistic missile earlier. Meanwhile, Yemen's armed forces said they carried out 951 attacks against Houthi targets in 24 hours as part of Operation 'Dawn of Yemen,' with a spokesperson claiming 332 fighters and commanders were 'neutralized' and 56 military vehicles destroyed or disabled.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Monday that Iran can emerge 'more powerful' despite threats from 'the enemy.' 'If the people are with us, the enemy can assassinate me and thousands like me, but they still won't be able to do a thing,' he said at a meeting with provincial governors and mayors. He urged local officials not to wait for top-down directives but to cooperate locally and include people in solving problems.

Authorities are still investigating the projectile strike off Oman, and UKMTO is urging ships to stay alert. With Houthi attacks drawing global condemnation and military operations ramping up across Yemen, the maritime security picture in the region remains tense. For now, the vessel and crew are safe, but the mystery of who fired the projectile lingers.