An unnamed tanker was hit by multiple projectiles off the Qatar coast in the Mideast Gulf on Wednesday in an incident in which "casualties have been reported", the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.
The incident took place at 19:00 GMT, 51 nautical miles north of Madinat ash Shamal, Qatar, a city about 100km north of the capital Doha and 54km from Ras Laffan.
"For the first time since 9 September, Iran has struck a ship in the Gulf, away from the strait of Hormuz," former head of intelligence at EOS Risk Group Martin Kelly said in a social media post.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, nor were details of seafarers' nationalities disclosed by the UKMTO.
The attack follows an attack on 6 October against Panama-flagged Long Range 2 tanker On Peace off the coast of Oman while transiting the strait of Hormuz.
There have been five attacks against vessels along the coast of Oman since 3 October.
Authorities are investigating and vessels are advised to transit with caution, the UKMTO said.
