Masked gunmen in military-style uniform board ship near Iran

The oil tanker is situated between Oman and Iran, about 50 nautical miles east of Sohar

Five masked gunmen in military-style uniforms boarded an oil tanker near Iran early on Thursday morning in what appears to be a ship seizure.

The vessel was situated about 50 nautical miles east of Sohar, a city on the north coast of Oman, just across the water from Iran.

A report from the UK Navy-run Maritime Trade Operations said that “unknown voices” were heard over the phone along with the ship captain’s voice, and that further attempts to establish contact with the vessel failed.

Tensions have been rising in the waterways of the Middle East since war broke out in between Israel and Hamas, a terrorist group.

The latest apparent seizure comes amidst weeks of attacks in the Red Sea, launched by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, based in Yemen.

On Tuesday, the group launched its largest attack since war broke out, firing 21 drones and missiles at the US and UK vessels patrolling the Red Sea. No injuries or damage was sustained by the US and UK.

Houthis ignore calls to stop

The multi-country patrol, launched by the US in December, has been aimed at protecting transit through the key shipping route which links Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

About 15 per cent of all global trade passes through the Red Sea.

The Houthis have ignored US calls to stop, and say they are doing so in support of Hamas, and in an apparent attempt to pressure Israel into a ceasefire.

“The UK alongside allies have previously made clear that these illegal attacks are completely unacceptable and if continued the Houthis will bear the consequences,” Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary, said on Wednesday.

“We will take the action needed to protect innocent lives and the global economy.”

Also on Wednesday, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution that condemned the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.

This increases the possibility of a US retaliation as the Houthi attacks continue, as the risk of regional war escalates.

The waters between Oman and Iran, where the suspected hijacking occurred, is also a major waterway, and is transited by vessels travelling the Strait of Hormuz, which links to the Persian Gulf and a key link for oil trade.

Private security firm Ambrey has estimated that six men boarded the ship, identified as oil tanker St Nikolas, and that the men covered surveillance cameras as they boarded, reported the Associated Press.

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