UAE tugboat sank in Strait of Hormuz; 3 Indonesians missing

Three Indonesian crew members are unaccounted for following the sinking of the United Arab Emirates-flagged tugboat Musaffah 2 in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, March 6, according to a statement from Jakarta's foreign ministry. The Strait of Hormuz has seen several attacks on ships since the US-Israeli conflict with Iran began on February 28. The Musaffah had a total of seven crew members from Indonesia, India, and the Philippines. The ministry reported that four crew members survived, while three Indonesians remain missing. The tugboat sank after an explosion caused a fire on board, and an investigation is currently underway by local authorities. The security firm Vanguard stated that the tugboat was hit by two missiles while it was trying to assist the Malta-flagged container ship Safeen Prestige, which had already been struck by a missile on Wednesday. According to the Indonesian ministry, one Indonesian survivor is receiving treatment for burns at a hospital in Khasab, Oman, while the search continues for the other three missing Indonesians. Another Indonesian was present during the incident but is now safe on a different vessel.