British authority warns of armed boats near Strait of Hormuz
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- British maritime authority warns of suspicious armed boats near Strait of Hormuz.
- No clashes reported; vessels urged to remain cautious amid US-Iran tensions.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued a security warning Tuesday over suspicious activity near the Strait of Hormuz, following a report of an incident about 16 nautical miles north of Oman in a key shipping lane.
UKMTO ADVISORY 001-26
— UKMTO Operations Centre (@UK_MTO) February 3, 2026
Click here to view the full advisory https://t.co/RdhECK5388#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/F5XN4Wxeyv
A commercial vessel received radio calls via VHF from several small armed boats demanding it stop. The vessel ignored the calls and continued along its planned route. No clashes occurred and no damage was reported. Authorities said an investigation into the incident is ongoing, according to the warning.
Read more: CENTCOM warns Iran’s IRGC over Strait of Hormuz naval drills
The UKMTO advised all ships in the area to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity immediately.
The warning reflects heightened tensions between the United States and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil passage, which have intensified following US threats of a military strike against Tehran.
