Special to WorldTribune.com

LONDON — A merchant ship has been attacked near Oman.

NATO said a merchant vessel was attacked by an unidentified speedboat in the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman.

The NATO Shipping Center said the the speedboat opened fire on the vessel from close range on early March 30.

“A merchant vessel reported being under attack by one armed skiff in the Strait of Hormuz and another merchant vessel was approached by one armed skiff, 30 nautical miles apart,” NATO said.

NATO said the speedboat contained six people with machine guns. No injuries were reported in a rare attack in Hormuz, dominated by Iran.

The attack on the merchant ship took place 90 minutes after another vessel was approached by two speedboats. NATO said the speedboats contained men in military uniforms who did not open fire.

“Two green-colored skiffs with three-four persons on board in military
clothing and armed with gun machines got to 150 meters of a merchant
vessel,” NATO said. “After a while the skiffs turned away to Iranian coast.”

NATO said its shipping center was investigating for any link between the
two incidents. The alliance issued a warning to merchant vessels in Hormuz.

“Vessels in the area should keep self-protection measures,” NATO said.

  NATO Shipping Center, Speedboat opens fire on merchant ship in Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Hormuz