DUBAI — Thailand’s navy has said it is providing urgent assistance after a Thai-flagged cargo ship was attacked while sailing through the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement, the Royal Thai Navy said 23 Thai crew members were aboard. Oman’s navy has rescued 20 crew members and is “in the process of rescuing” the remaining three, the Thai authorities said. The Thai navy said officials received an initial report of the incident at approximately 11:00, but does not specify the time zone. It says the ship was attacked after departing from Khalifa Port, United Arab Emirates, several hours earlier. The cause of the attack is still under investigation, the statement said. UK Maritime Trade Operations said it has received reports of 13 ships being attacked in the Middle East since the start of the conflict. It said there have also been four reports of suspicious activity, bringing the total number of incidents affecting ships operating in and around the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman to 17. The update comes after reports of three commercial vessels being hit by “unknown projectiles” in the area in separate incidents this morning, with the crew of one ship forced to evacuate after the vessel was struck north of Oman. — AgenciesDUBAI — Thailand’s navy has said it is providing urgent assistance after a Thai-flagged cargo ship was attacked while sailing through the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement, the Royal Thai Navy said 23 Thai crew members were aboard. Oman’s navy has rescued 20 crew members and is “in the process of rescuing” the remaining three, the Thai authorities said. The Thai navy said officials received an initial report of the incident at approximately 11:00, but does not specify the time zone. It says the ship was attacked after departing from Khalifa Port, United Arab Emirates, several hours earlier. The cause of the attack is still under investigation, the statement said. UK Maritime Trade Operations said it has received reports of 13 ships being attacked in the Middle East since the start of the conflict. It said there have also been four reports of suspicious activity, bringing the total number of incidents affecting ships operating in and around the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman to 17. The update comes after reports of three commercial vessels being hit by “unknown projectiles” in the area in separate incidents this morning, with the crew of one ship forced to evacuate after the vessel was struck north of Oman. — Agencies
