The security situation in the Strait of Hormuz has once again become tense. After a Singapore-flagged cargo ship was struck by an unmanned aerial vehicle near the coast of Oman, the UN's International Maritime Organization (IMO) has temporarily suspended its ship evacuation operations in the region.
According to US officials, the attack is believed to have been carried out by a kamikaze drone from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The incident damaged the ship's control section, but no casualties were reported among the crew. Official Tehran has not claimed responsibility for the attack.
The incident is considered the first serious security event in the Strait of Hormuz since a temporary agreement was reached between the US and Iran regarding the resumption of shipping. Prior to the attack, Iran had warned that only routes designated by Tehran should be used.
The UN's International Maritime Organization stated that the evacuation operation was suspended to re-evaluate security guarantees following the attack. The organization emphasized that the attacked ship was not moving along the IMO's official evacuation route.