Two tankers hit by 'projectile', debris in Hormuz: maritime agency

A maritime security agency said Monday that two tankers were hit either by an "unknown projectile" or debris from one in the Strait of Hormuz, where vessels have come under repeated fire since the Middle East war broke out.

Iran is seeking to maintain a stranglehold on the vital waterway as leverage in its war with the United States, while Washington has imposed a counterblockade of Iranian ports, with both sides striking ships they accuse of noncompliance.

In the first incident to be reported on Monday, "a tanker conducting an inbound transit was struck by an unknown projectile" in the Hormuz, said the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) operations centre.

"Two crew have sustained minor injuries and the vessel is reported to be continuing to its next port of call under its own power," it added.

British security firm Vanguard Tech said UK-flagged tanker La Stephanie was hit by a drone while sailing towards the Gulf, also reporting minor injuries to two crew members.

Later in the day, UKMTO said an "LPG tanker has been hit by debris from unknown projectiles". No casualties were reported in the second incident and the tanker would also continue to its next port of call, it said.