Three ships near the Strait of Hormuz were struck by projectiles, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.

One vessel caught fire about 11 nautical miles north of Oman, forcing its crew to evacuate, while two other ships were damaged near Dubai and off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.

Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps later said it had fired on a Thailand-flagged container ship called Mayuree Naree.

Shipping through the Strait has slowed dramatically since the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on Feb. 28, with Iran retaliating by targeting vessels in the area, CNBC has reported.

Because roughly 20% of global oil and gas normally passes through the waterway, the attacks are raising concerns about disruptions to global energy supply and trade.