A Qatar-linked tanker has burst into flames after being struck by a missile in the Strait of Hormuz, sending alarm bells ringing across the Middle East as fears of an imminent explosion mount. The vessel, identified as the Al Rekayyat, was carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) when it came under heavy missile fire while transiting the strategically vital waterway.
Strait of Hormuz: Fire engulfs the entire engine room of the Qatari tanker
According to exclusive information reported by Reuters, citing a well-informed source, the situation is described as extremely critical. The fire has completely engulfed the ship’s engine room, making firefighting operations exceptionally difficult. The region is on a knife’s edge, as the threat of a large-scale explosion remains very real and active.
The Al Rekayyat and a Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker both sustained damage near the Strait of Hormuz after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards launched missiles overnight against vessels passing through the strategically important sea lane.
The Al Rekayyat was laden with liquefied natural gas and issued distress signals requesting assistance after being struck on its port side, the source confirmed, according to reports.
View this post on Instagram.
