ALBAWABA- The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has reported a series of maritime safety incidents in the Gulf, including a fire breaking out in the engine room of a cargo vessel 14 nautical miles west of the Emirati Saqr Port.
In a separate incident, another cargo ship north of Dubai also reported an engine room fire, with investigations underway to determine the cause. No casualties have been reported in either case, and all crew members are confirmed safe.
The incidents come amid heightened maritime activity and rising regional tensions in waters near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping corridor.
Iranian military officials defended recent operations in the region, with the Iranian Army Chief describing the security of the Strait of Hormuz as a “red line.” Iranian commanders claimed that U.S. naval vessels had approached the area with radars switched off, prompting what they described as a missile response.
However, a U.S. official told Al Jazeera that American destroyers continued routine operations in Gulf waters after transiting the strait and were not subjected to direct attack.
The maritime incidents and military exchanges form part of a broader escalation following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of “Project Freedom,” a U.S.-led naval initiative aimed at escorting stranded neutral vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
Backed by American guided-missile destroyers, the operation seeks to ensure the safe passage of commercial shipping through one of the world’s most strategic energy routes. Iran has strongly opposed the initiative, viewing it as an infringement on its declared security zone.
Tensions have since spilled into the wider Gulf region, with reports of strikes on UAE-linked assets, including an oil facility in Fujairah that caused fires earlier in the week. The UAE has repeatedly said its air defence systems remain on high alert after multiple waves of missile and drone attacks attributed to Iran.
