A Qatari liquefied natural gas carrier, the Al Mayeda, was allegedly struck by 'unidentified objects' while navigating the Persian Gulf on Friday evening, according to the Qatar Gas Transport Company. This troubling incident marks yet another maritime security breach targeting commercial shipping since the onset of the broader regional conflict in February, which has severely disrupted global supply chains and trade routes.

In a statement disseminated via the Qatar Stock Exchange, the company asserted that no crew members sustained injuries and that there was no documented environmental damage resulting from the impact. The vessel is purportedly remaining in a 'safe condition, operational' status, while technical teams continue a thorough assessment of the damages and the overall implications of the security breach.

International shipping metrics provided by the International Maritime Organization and the UK Maritime Trade Operations indicate that over 120 commercial vessels have faced hostile actions since the conflict escalated. The persistent instability follows the aggressive steps taken by the US regime, which reportedly reimposed a strict blockade on southern Iranian ports in July, culminating in a severe spike in shipping attacks, with October recording at least 29 damaged vessels.

Source: www.aljazeera.com