An unidentified missile has damaged a tanker off the coast of Oman, and the Iranian military and the United States are reporting an escalation of tensions.

An unidentified missile struck a tanker near the coast of Oman, causing damage to its engine room without any injuries reported. The United States has issued warnings to its citizens in the Middle East, urging them to consider leaving the region due to the potential escalation of conflict. The incident occurred amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran over control of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical oil shipping routes. The attack took place approximately 20 kilometers off the coast near the town of Lima in Oman. According to the British Maritime Security Agency UKMTO, the vessel’s crew reported that an unknown missile caused damage to the ship’s engine room. There were no casualties reported. This incident follows increased hostilities between the U.S. and Iran, which have been locked in a conflict since February 28, when Iran began enforcing control over maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, requiring ships to obtain permits and pay fees to pass through. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has recently attacked and halted several vessels attempting to cross the strait, asserting complete control over the area. According to data from the maritime tracking company Kpler, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has significantly decreased in recent times, as reported by AFP. Iran’s military accused the United States of escalating tensions in the Middle East and urged countries in the region not to cooperate with Washington during the current conflict. This statement followed new threats from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding extensive attacks on Iran, according to French press agency AFP. Ali Abdolahi, head of the central command of Iran’s military, stated today that the U.S. is “quickly moving along the path of escalating tensions in the region.” Countries that serve as “defensive shields for criminal and aggressive America,” he warned, would “be engulfed by the flames of war.” However, Iran’s military did not specify which countries in the region the warning referred to. In response to the growing instability, U.S. embassies in Amman, Jerusalem, and Baghdad advised American citizens in the Middle East to monitor flight information, follow local authorities' instructions, and prepare for possible flight cancellations, occasional airspace closures, and travel disruptions. In Jordan, Americans were advised not to remain in areas hosting U.S. military bases, which have been targets of Iranian missile attacks in recent times. In Israel, they were encouraged to familiarize themselves with the location of nearby shelters. The U.S. embassy in Jerusalem also noted that the Iranian regime is unpredictable, having reportedly launched attacks on areas in the region without prior notice and expanding strikes to locations previously untouched, including Egypt. Meanwhile, Kuwait reported early morning attacks by Iranian drones on the country. Damage was reported due to falling drone debris. Kuwait hosts U.S. military bases, according to German press agency DPA. General Secretary of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jassem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi condemned “Iranian attacks on civilian objects in Kuwait” and described them as “continuation of destabilizing security and stability in the region.” He stated that the attacks targeted government facilities and civilian vehicles belonging to private companies on the island of Bubiyan, according to Al Jazeera. Al-Budaiwi described the attacks as “obvious aggression and serious violations of Kuwait’s sovereignty” and “direct threats to its security, stability, and the safety of its citizens and residents.” He reiterated the GCC’s “full solidarity” with Kuwait. Conditions in the Middle East have deteriorated again after the signing of a June agreement between Washington and Tehran, following reports that Iran had attacked ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically vital shipping lane for energy exports from the Persian Gulf. This was followed by 13 consecutive nights of U.S. attacks on Iran and retaliatory Iranian attacks on U.S. targets in the region.