Cargo ship hit by missile in Gulf of Oman; alert issued

DUBAI: A cargo ship has come under a missile attack in the strategically important Gulf of Oman, which connects the Arabian Sea with the Strait of Hormuz. The attack targeted the Panama-flagged container ship Vela Nova while it was sailing towards the Gulf of Oman. The incident took place about 71 nautical miles from the coast of Pakistan.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has confirmed the attack. According to UKMTO, a military unit in the area carried out the attack on the vessel. However, it is not yet clear which country was behind the attack. An investigation is underway, and security agencies have advised other commercial vessels sailing through the region to remain highly alert.

The Gulf of Oman is a key waterway located along Pakistan's southwestern coast and connects the Arabian Sea with the Strait of Hormuz. It is also an important strategic shipping route near major Pakistani ports, including Gwadar.

Meanwhile, maritime security remains highly tense in other parts of the region as well. In the Red Sea, three crew members were killed in a missile attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels on a cargo ship in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Two Pakistani nationals and one Indonesian national were reportedly among those killed. Repeated attacks on commercial shipping routes in the region have raised serious concerns over global trade and maritime security.