Strait of Hormuz: Tanker fire reported off Oman

A ship is on fire in the Strait of Hormuz.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), an agency run by the British Royal Navy, reported the incident on Thursday. The captain of a nearby vessel spotted the blaze 9 nautical miles north of Khasab, Oman. The UKMTO has not confirmed the cause of the fire or if any crew members were injured. No details on environmental damage have emerged.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) issued a statement on the same day. The IRGC claimed three tankers exploded and caught fire in the previous 24 hours. The group said the vessels hit sea mines while using an unauthorized route. It is not yet known if the ship reported to the UKMTO is one of the three cited by the IRGC.

This incident follows a recent increase in Iranian attacks on shipping. Since the war began in February, Tehran has sought to control the waterway. The US-based Washington Institute for Near East Policy states that attacks on ships are at their highest level since the conflict started. Shipping data provider Kpler reported that oil exports through the strait fell again last week.

Iran also reported downing a US drone east of the strait on Thursday. The Tasnim news agency cited the IRGC in saying a new air defense system was used. The IRGC claims its forces have destroyed 14 drones of this type and more than 50 MQ-9 Reaper drones since the war began. These claims have not been independently verified. The US Congressional Research Service notes that dozens of US aircraft and drones have been reported lost or damaged since the conflict started.

The US Navy is enforcing its own blockade of Iranian vessels. The Navy recently escorted tankers through the strait in the area where the burning ship was sighted. US President Donald Trump is widely seen as considering fresh strikes against Iran after the midterm elections on November 3. Trump said last week that the US might conduct another operation, referring to the February attacks as Epic Fury. He did not give a specific timeframe for new action.

A third US aircraft carrier and thousands of additional troops are currently moving to the region. Amid these reports, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly fired the Pentagon’s top military planner, Army Lieutenant General Brett Sylvia. No reason was given for the departure, and no replacement has been named. If confirmed, this would be the latest high-level departure under the Trump administration. Lieutenant General Joseph McGee was forced to retire in October 2025.

The UKMTO continues to monitor the situation. The status of the crew on the burning vessel remains unknown. The IRGC maintains its position that unauthorized vessels are taking risks in the strait. The US and Iran continue to exchange claims regarding aerial and naval engagements. The waterway remains a key transit point for global oil and natural gas supplies.