London, July 24, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A merchant vessel carrying 30 crew members reported coming under missile attack near the eastern entrance to the Strait of Hormuz and issued a distress call on a public VHF maritime radio channel, according to audio recordings obtained by Xinhua News Agency on Friday.
In one of the recordings, a caller identified by the seafarer as a US military operator is heard warning a merchant vessel that it was “non-compliant” for continuing towards Iranian waters.
“You are non-compliant by continuing towards Iran. You have been warned several times. I am preparing to fire at your engine room,” the caller said, while instructing the crew to clear the engine room within 15 minutes.
A subsequent recording captured a vessel identifying itself as Disha reporting that it had been struck.
“This is Disha. We are attacked by unknown missiles. We require immediate assistance. We have 30 crew on board,” the distress call said, while giving its position near the Strait of Hormuz.
The recordings have not been independently verified, and there has been no immediate official confirmation from US or Iranian authorities regarding the reported attack.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Gulf region, where maritime traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz has faced increasing security concerns.
On Thursday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it had stopped three oil tankers attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, alleging that one tanker caught fire after an explosion while the other two turned back. The IRGC warned that vessels attempting to transit the route without Iran’s consent could face similar consequences.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes, with regional tensions continuing to raise concerns over maritime security.
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