Two separate incidents of tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz sustained minor structural damage after being struck by uncrewed aerial vehicles, the UK Maritime Trade Operations said on Tuesday.
One of the vessels was struck by an unknown Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle, sustaining minor structural damage, UKMTO said, adding that no casualties or environmental impact were reported, with the vessel continuing to its next port of call.
The UKMTO said it had also received a report of another incident involving a tanker in the Hormuz. The vessel was struck by an unidentified projectile and is believed to have sustained structural damage.
The UKMTO did not identify the vessels involved, provide details on the origin of the attacks or assign responsibility, adding that it continues to investigate the instances.
"Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO," it said.
These two additional strikes push the total number of tankers attacked in the Strait to three. On Monday, the UKMTO reported that a tanker had been hit by an unknown projectile on its port side, sparking a fire.
Meanwhile, a liquefied natural gas carrier was hit after ignoring warnings from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps while passing through the Omani route, according to Iranian media reports.
Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson, Majed Al Ansari, said the targeting of the Qatari tanker near the Hormuz was an unacceptable attack on the security of international navigation and global energy supplies.
"We demand that the Islamic Republic of Iran immediately cease all practices that undermine regional security or threaten the safety of international maritime navigation...," Al Ansari said in an X post.
Iran has repeatedly warned that safe passage through the Strait is only possible via routes designated by Tehran.
The IRGC Navy described any alternative transit routes as "unacceptable and extremely dangerous" and said coordination with the IRGC Navy is mandatory for transit through the strategic waterway.