British maritime authority: Ships ordered to leave anchorages near Ras Al Khaimah

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Saturday it had received reports from several ship captains about receiving radio instructions to leave their anchorages near the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates.

The authority did not provide further details about the nature of these instructions or who issued them, nor did it clarify whether they were linked to direct security threats or military developments in the area.

These developments come amid rising maritime tensions related to the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, which began in February and was followed by Iranian attacks on Israel and American targets in the region, before a ceasefire was reached in April, according to a report by Anadolu Agency.

In recent days, the region has seen increased risks to shipping, with attacks on commercial vessels and oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf, amid disputes between Washington and Tehran over maritime security and freedom of navigation. The heightened risks have led to a significant decline in shipping traffic through the strait compared to pre-conflict levels.