UK maritime authorities: Hormuz threat level raised to "severe"

According to Golden Ten Data on July 8, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that three oil tanker attacks occurred near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, prompting the maritime threat level in the area to be raised to "severe," the second-highest level. UKMTO stated that an unnamed LNG vessel was struck by an unidentified object on the port side of its engine room while passing through the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in a fire; another very large crude carrier was attacked by an unidentified object while leaving the strait, but continued to its intended destination with no casualties reported; a third oil tanker was attacked near Oman’s Musandam Peninsula, causing minor structural damage. UKMTO indicated that the likelihood of "deliberate hostile actions" is increasing in the current environment, that navigational interference persists, and urged relevant vessels to remain highly vigilant. The agency also noted that radio calls and route intervention activities by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are ongoing, especially targeting vessels with their automatic identification systems activated.