UKMTO Reports Vessel on Fire in Northern Persian Gulf, Near Iraq

An unidentified vessel caught fire about 63 nautical miles southeast of Al-Faw, in southern Iraq, in the northern Persian Gulf, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency. The body noted that it received multiple third-party reports of the incident, which occurred on Monday, October 26, but was unable to identify the vessel or establish the circumstances of the event.

UKMTO classified the initial report as suspicious activity, without confirming whether it was an external attack or another cause. As of the time of the reports, the condition of the crew, the extent of damage to the vessel, and any potential environmental impact were unknown. Authorities continue to investigate the origin of the fire, and UKMTO advised vessels operating in the area to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity.

The advisory about the fire was released the same day UKMTO disclosed, with a three-day delay, a confirmed attack on a tanker struck by an unidentified projectile while transiting outbound through the Strait of Hormuz on October 23, which left the vessel disabled though with no injuries among the crew. The Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC), in its October 25 report, maintained a SEVERE threat alert for the Strait of Hormuz and SUBSTANTIAL for the rest of the Persian Gulf, citing five attacks within the Gulf since October 7, including one against an LPG gas carrier on October 22 near Limah, Oman, which later reached an anchorage off Khor Fakkan.

According to JMIC, 156 confirmed maritime security incidents have been recorded in the region since March 1, while the International Maritime Organization (IMO) counted 120 incidents in the Strait of Hormuz and the Middle East through October 22, according to Marine Insight, which also noted that a vessel named Soyia was attacked off Al-Faw on October 20. Commercial traffic remains well below historical levels: JMIC reported 101 U.S.-assisted transits between October 22 and 24, compared with a historical average of about 138 vessels per day in 2025, while as of October 25 there were approximately 492 vessels waiting outside the Strait of Hormuz, concentrated near Fujairah, Khor Fakkan, and other regional anchorages.

Meanwhile, oil prices remained near $116 per barrel on October 27, according to CBS News, as Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan held talks with Iran in an effort to prevent a resumption of hostilities in the Middle East. Iran described the talks as "very good," although no concrete agreement was announced, amid warnings from the United States, Iran, and Israel about a possible new escalation of the conflict.