Oman evacuates injured crew member after attack on Indian boat in Strait of Hormuz

MUSCAT — Oman announced Friday that it had medically evacuated an injured crew member from an Indian boat targeted in the Strait of Hormuz.The Royal Air Force of Oman carried out the evacuation in coordination with relevant authorities, according to a statement from the military’s Directorate of Moral Guidance.The injured crew member was airlifted from Khasab Hospital in the northern governorate of Musandam to Khawla Hospital in Muscat for specialized medical treatment.The Royal Navy of Oman had earlier announced the evacuation of 25 crew members from a commercial vessel that caught fire after coming under attack approximately 1.6 nautical miles off the coast of Musandam.Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported Friday that a tanker had caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz after being struck by two explosive devices late Thursday.According to UKMTO, the incident occurred approximately 25 nautical miles northeast of Khasab.The reports come amid heightened security threats to commercial shipping in the Arabian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waterways, where several maritime attacks and incidents have been reported in recent months.The developments also coincide with continued tensions between Iran and the United States over navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for global energy supplies and international trade.The conflict began with US and Israeli strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, followed by a ceasefire in April.Hostilities between Washington and Tehran resumed in July as negotiations stalled.