Ship Attack in Hormuz Forces UN to Halt Sailor Evacuations

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Manama: The United Nations maritime agency has suspended its evacuation program for ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz due to an attack on a commercial vessel, citing new security concerns. The attacked vessel was not included in the evacuation plan prepared by the UN.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) unveiled the evacuation plan on June 23 with the goal of assisting thousands of sailors and hundreds of ships in safely leaving the Gulf via approved routes in Iranian and Omani waters. 57 ships carrying about 1,100 sailors had successfully passed through the corridor before operations were suspended.

According to IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, the suspension will enable authorities to reevaluate participating vessels' safety guarantees. Although no party has claimed credit, it is thought that a drone hit the attacked ship, and investigations are currently underway.

The majority of the world's oil and gas supplies flow through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, and the incident underlines the ongoing threats to commercial shipping in the region.