Thai ship hit by projectiles in Strait of Hormuz — 20 rescued, 3 crew missing

Thailand's Transport Ministry confirmed that a Thai-flagged ship was struck by unknown projectiles while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. An explosion occurred in the stern of the vessel, causing a fire in the engine compartment. Twenty crew members abandoned ship via lifeboat and were rescued by the Omani navy. Three crew members remain missing — they had been working in the engine compartment when the fire broke out. The Hormuz incident is the first confirmed strike on a civilian vessel in the strait since the war began, and signals that the strait — already closed to commercial shipping — now poses a direct kinetic threat to any vessel attempting transit. The origin of the projectiles was not immediately confirmed, though the attack is consistent with IRGC mine or small-boat operations in the strait. The Omani navy's rescue role is notable: Oman has maintained strict neutrality in the conflict while simultaneously facilitating back-channel diplomacy, and its navy is now directly engaged in rescuing civilians from the Hormuz war zone.