Strait of Hormuz Attack Fuels Fears Over Global Oil Supplies
The Strait of Hormuz has seen another reported attack on a ship, fueling fears about threats to global oil supplies. The British navy-affiliated agency UKMTO received a report of a projectile hitting a vessel as it moved through the strait.
The amount of damage and the status of the crew were unknown at the time. This incident comes after Saudi Arabia shut down its East-West pipeline, which has been a main route for global supplies of Middle East oil since the Strait of Hormuz was largely shut by war.
The East-West pipeline has been moving 4 million to 5 million barrels per day, amounting to 4% to 5% of global supply. The attack resulted in some injuries and damage that is being assessed, but no immediate claim of responsibility has been made.
US President Donald Trump said Iran was probably to blame for the attacks on the pipeline, which also saw a projectile fired by the Houthis injuring two people in Jazan region and damaging several buildings.