LONDON, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- A cargo vessel has reported that it had been hit by an unknown projectile off the coast of Oman, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said late Monday.

According to a UKMTO advisory, the incident occurred earlier on Monday in waters about 20 nautical miles northeast of Al Khasab, Oman, near the eastern entrance to the Strait of Hormuz.

The UKMTO said it received a report from military authorities at 2200 GMT on Monday. The cargo vessel reported via VHF radio that it had been struck by an unknown projectile, the warning noted.

The UKMTO advised vessels transiting the area to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity to the agency.

As tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated in recent weeks, the UKMTO has reported a series of maritime security incidents, most of which occurred off the coast of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz.