Three ships have been hit by "unknown projectiles" in the Strait of Hormuz, the world's busiest oil shipping channel, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has reported. One commercial vessel was damaged off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, a second north of Oman was evacuated after a fire was ignited, and a third sustained damage in an unreported location on 11 March, the monitoring service said. Meanwhile, the US military said it has "eliminated" 16 Iranian mine-laying ships in the strait. About 20% of the world's oil usually passes through the strait and the war has severely reduced sea traffic and sent global oil prices soaring. Iran previously said it would "set fire" to any ships trying to pass through the Strait, but a very small amount of traffic has continued.…